Methods, systems and apparatus for managing and/or enforcing policies for managing internet protocol (“IP”) traffic among multiple accesses of a network

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems and apparatus for managing and/or enforcing one or more policies for managing internet protocol (“IP”) traffic among multiple accesses of a network in accordance with a policy for managing bandwidth among the multiple accesses are disclosed. Among the methods, systems and apparatus is a method that may include obtaining performance metrics associated with the multiple accesses. The method may also include adapting one or more rules of one or more the policies for managing IP traffic among the plurality of accesses based, at least in part, on the performance metrics and the policy for managing bandwidth among the plurality of accesses. The method may further include managing IP traffic associated with at least one wireless transmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”) among the plurality of accesses responsive to the adapted rules.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/446,685, filed 13 Apr. 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Pat. Appln. Ser. Nos. 61/475,023, filed on 13 Apr. 2011, and61/546,543, filed on 12 Oct. 2011; all of which are incorporated hereinby reference.

BACKGROUND

Field

This application is related to wireless communications.

Related Art

In its initial response to an ever increasing bandwidth crunch, thewireless industry has been experimenting with a number of ad-hoc dataoffloading and tariffing schemes—some offering partial temporary relief,but no scalability for broad deployments. More efficient and robustsolutions will be required to meet the future data needs of,potentially, billions of Smartphone users around the world.

Experts envision a “Network of Networks” with connectivity and mobilityacross multiple access networks (such as, for example, cellular andWi-Fi accesses), a richer multimedia experience and new mobile broadbandcapabilities. It is believed by the inventors of the presently claimedand/or unclaimed subject matter herein that innovative policy-drivenbandwidth management (“BWM”) and radio-agnostic technologies acrossdevices (e.g., mobile devices), networks, and services are among amultitude of advancements in the art likely needed for achieving suchvision.

SUMMARY

Provided herein are methods, systems and apparatus for managing and/orenforcing one or more policies for managing internet protocol (“IP”)traffic among multiple accesses of a network, including accessesemploying different radio access technologies (“RAT”), in accordancewith a policy for managing bandwidth among the multiple accesses (“BWMpolicy”). Such methods, systems and apparatus may be useful, forinstance, for performing multi-access flow management, and/or bandwidthaggregation among the multiple accesses.

Among the methods, systems and apparatus is a method that may includeobtaining performance metrics associated with the multiple accesses. Themethod may also include adapting one or more rules of one or more thepolicies for managing IP traffic among the plurality of accesses based,at least in part, on the performance metrics and the policy for managingbandwidth among the plurality of accesses. The method may furtherinclude managing IP traffic associated with at least one wirelesstransmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”) among the plurality of accessesresponsive to the adapted rules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed understanding may be had from the detailed descriptionbelow, given by way of example in conjunction with drawings appendedhereto. Figures in such drawings, like the detailed description, areexamples. As such, the Figures and the detailed description are not tobe considered limiting, and other equally effective examples arepossible and likely. Furthermore, like reference numerals in the Figuresindicate like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communicationssystem in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implementedand/or carried out;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating an example wirelesstransmit/receive unit (WTRU) that may be used within the communicationssystem illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating an example radio access network(“RAN”) and an example core network (“CN”) that may be used within thecommunications system illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1D is a block diagram illustrating an example of a RAN and aexample of a CN;

FIG. 1E is a block diagram illustrating an example of a RAN and aexample of a CN;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communicationssystem in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implementedand/or carried out;

FIGS. 3A-3C are block diagrams illustrating an example of acommunications system in which one or more disclosed embodiments may beimplemented and/or carried out;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communicationssystem in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implementedand/or carried out;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a distributednetwork monitoring and control function (“NMCF”);

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example communications systemwith enhancements for bandwidth management (“BWM”) policies in a localarea and/or hotspot served by a CGW;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example communications systemwith enhancements for BWM policies in a local area and/or hotspot servedby a CGW;

FIGS. 8-9 are flow diagrams illustrating an example process for ANDSFdiscovery;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for performingnetwork-initiated IFOM using ANDSF information;

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for performingWTRU-initiated IFOM using ANDSF information;

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for managingand/or enforcing polices for IP traffic management among multipleaccesses;

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for managingand/or enforcing polices for IP traffic management among multipleaccesses;

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for enablinginteraction among access network discovery and selection function(“ANDSF”) and policy control and charging (“PCC”) entities;

FIGS. 15-18 are flow diagrams illustrating example processes 1500-1800for enabling interaction among ANDSF and PCC entities;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communicationssystem in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implementedand/or carried out;

FIG. 20 is a chart illustrating Table 1 listing various information thatmay be collected by the WTRU ICF and/or an ANDSF configured inaccordance with various embodiments;

FIG. 21 is a chart illustrating Table 2 listing information that may becollected at cell edge and be reported to any of a ANDSF and a PCRF;

FIG. 22 is a chart illustrating Table 3 listing information that may becollected from WTRU-to-GW tunnels and be reported to any of a ANDSF anda PCRF;

FIG. 23 is a chart illustrating Table 4 listing information that becollected at the CN gateway from each access network tunnel;

FIG. 24 is a chart illustrating Table 5 listing backhaul informationthat may be collected, reported and/or used for managing IP traffic;

FIG. 25 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for managingand/or enforcing polices for IP traffic management among multipleaccesses;

FIG. 26 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for managingand/or enforcing polices for IP traffic management among multipleaccesses; and

FIG. 27 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for managingand/or enforcing polices for IP traffic management among multipleaccesses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments and/or examplesdisclosed herein. However, it will be understood that such embodimentsand examples may be practiced without some or all of the specificdetails set forth herein. In other instances, well-known methods,procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail,so as not to obscure the following description. Further, embodiments andexamples not specifically described herein may be practiced in lieu of,or in combination with, the embodiments and other examples disclosedherein.

Moreover, in the following description, various standards are referredto and/or incorporated by reference herein in connection with theembodiments and/or examples disclosed herein. Unless otherwiseindicated, details of the various standards (incorporated herein orotherwise) are set forth as examples. Incorporated by reference hereinare 3rd Generation Partnership Project (“3GPP”) Technical Specification(“TS”) 23.203, v11.1.0, (Policy and Charging Control (“PCC”)architecture); 3GPP TS 23.261, v10.1.0, (Internet Protocol (“IP”) flowmobility (“IFOM”) and Seamless WLAN Offload); 3GPP TS 23.402, v10.3.0,(Architecture Enhancements for Non-3GPP Accesses); 3GPP TS 24.302,v10.3.1, (Access to the 3GPP Evolved Packet Core (EPC) via non-3GPPaccess); 3GPP TS 23.401, v10.4.0, (GPRS Enhancements for E-UTRAN); 3GPPTS 24.312, v10.3.0, (Access Network Discovery and Selection Function(“ANDSF”) Management Object (MO)); 3GPP Technical Report (“TR”) 23.861,v1.3.0, (Multi-access PDN Connectivity and IFOM); and 3GPP TR 23.813,v0.5.0 (2011-02) (Study on Policy Solutions and Enhancements (Release10)).

Overview

Policy management is already viewed as an important tool used byoperators to control how their networks get utilized, manage userbehavior and maximize whatever measure or metric of network utility isused by the operator (e.g. capacity). In general, policies may becharacterized by specification of rules and expected enforcement of therules by various entities in the network. The rules may be staticallyconfigured or dynamically updated; specified by end users, networkoperators, or service providers; and may be considered as guidelines ormandates depending on particular policy enforcement requirements.

As data consumption by mobile/wireless users continues to increase, andas the range of mobile network access options grows to include differentradio access technologies (cellular, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, etc.), differentbackhaul mechanisms (TDM, carrier Ethernet, fiber/cable/DSL, etc.), anddifferent network infrastructures (mobile core networks, publicInternet, IMS networks, private networks including enterprise andresidential, etc.), operator policies become a critical tool formanaging all available network resources in a way that benefits networkoperators while maintaining the expected user experience forsubscribers.

The role of measurement in such policies is ever increasing. In variousembodiments, a policy rule does not fully specify a network elementsbehavior, rather it does so conditional on some set of observations,measurements, metrics of what is going on in the network. Thisflexibility is may allow operators to maintain centralized control overthe network, while distributing actual real-time decision making acrossthe network to reduce complexity and control signaling overhead.

Provided herein are methods, systems and apparatus for managing and/orenforcing one or more policies for managing internet protocol (“IP”)traffic among multiple accesses of a network, including accessesemploying different radio access technologies (“RAT”), in accordancewith a policy for managing bandwidth among the multiple accesses (“BWMpolicy”). Policy-driven BWM across the multiple accesses may rely onintelligent and comprehensive policies that are driven by numerouscriteria, such as, for example, operator policy, user subscriptionparameters, application requirements, network conditions, location,available power, etc.

The methods, systems and apparatus provided herein may be useful, forinstance, for performing multi-access flow management, and/or bandwidthaggregation among the multiple accesses. Among the methods, systems andapparatus provided herein is a method that may include obtainingperformance metrics associated with the multiple accesses. The methodmay also include adapting one or more rules of one or more the policiesfor managing IP traffic among the plurality of accesses based, at leastin part, on the performance metrics and the policy for managingbandwidth among the plurality of accesses. The method may furtherinclude managing IP traffic associated with at least one wirelesstransmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”) among the plurality of accessesresponsive to the adapted rules.

Also provided herein are methods, systems and apparatus for enablinginteraction among access network discovery and selection function(“ANDSF”) and policy control and charging (“PCC”) entities. As describedin more detail below, such interaction may also be useful formulti-access flow management, and/or bandwidth aggregation among themultiple accesses.

Example Architecture

FIGS. 1A-1E (collectively “FIG. 1”) are block diagrams illustrating anexample communications system 100 in which one or more disclosedembodiments may be implemented. The communications system 100, forexample, may be suitable for implementing and/or carrying out, forexample, any of bandwidth management (“BWM”), bandwidth aggregation(“BWA”), flow management, internet protocol (“IP”) flow mobility(“IFOM”), and the like to IP traffic that may be carried over, acrossand/or among (collectively “among”) multiple accesses and/or accesssystems; some, all or none of which use different access technologies.The IFOM may be based on IP-level protocols. Such IP-level protocols mayinclude, for example, general-packet-radio service (“GPRS”) tunnelingprotocol (“GTP”), and/or protocols based and/or built on Mobile-IP(“MIP”), such as, for example, dual-stack MIP version 6 (“DSMIPv6”) andproxy MIP version 6 (“PMIPv6”).

In general, the communications system 100 defines an architecture thatsupports multiple access systems over which multiple wireless users mayaccess and/or exchange (e.g., send and/or receive) content, such asvoice, data, video, messaging, broadcast, etc. The architecture alsosupports having two or more of the multiple access systems use and/or beconfigured in accordance with different access technologies. This way,the communications system 100 may service both wireless users capable ofusing a single access technology, and wireless users capable of usingmultiple access technologies.

The multiple access systems may include respective accesses; each ofwhich may be, for example, an access network, access point and the like.In various embodiments, all of the multiple accesses may be configuredwith and/or employ the same radio access technologies (“RATs”). Some orall of such accesses (“single-RAT accesses”) may be owned, managed,controlled, operated, etc. by either (i) a single mobile networkoperator and/or carrier (collectively “MNO”) or (ii) multiple MNOs. Invarious embodiments, some or all of the multiple accesses may beconfigured with and/or employ different RATs. These multiple accesses(“multi-RAT accesses”) may be owned, managed, controlled, operated, etc.by either a single MNO or multiple MNOs.

The communications system 100 may enable the wireless users to accessthe content through sharing and/or distribution of system resources,including, for example, wireless bandwidth. The communications system100, for example, may employ one or more channel access methods, such ascode division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access(TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA(OFDMA), single-carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), and the like.

The communications system 100 may include wireless transmit/receiveunits (“WTRUs”) 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and 102 d, a radio access network(“RAN”) 104, a core network 106, a public switched telephone network(“PSTN”) 108, an internet 110, and other networks 112, though it will beappreciated that the disclosed embodiments contemplate any number ofWTRUs, base stations, networks, and/or network elements.

Each of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and 102 d may be any type ofdevice configured to operate and/or communicate in a wirelessenvironment. By way of example, the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and 102 dmay be configured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals, and mayinclude user equipment (“UE”), a mobile station, a fixed or mobilesubscriber unit, a pager, a cellular telephone, a personal digitalassistant (“PDA”), a Smartphone, a laptop, a netbook, a personalcomputer, a wireless sensor, consumer electronics, and the like.

The communications system 100 may also include a base station 114 a anda base station 114 b. Each of the base stations 114 a, 114 b may be anytype of device configured to wirelessly interface with at least one ofthe WTRUs and 102 d, and may facilitate access to one or morecommunication networks, such as the core network 106, the internet 110,and/or the other networks 112. The base stations 114 a, 114 b may be,for example, any of a base transceiver station (“BTS”), Node-B (“NB”),evolved NB (“eNB”), Home NB (“HNB”), Home eNB (“HeNB”), enterprise NB(“ENT-NB”), enterprise eNB (“ENT-eNB”), a site controller, an accesspoint (“AP”), a wireless router, and the like. Although depicted as asingle element, each of the base stations 114 a, 114 b may nonethelessinclude any number of communicatively coupled base stations and/ornetwork elements. The term “H/E(e)NB” is used hereinafter, forsimplicity of exposition, to refer to a HNB, a HeNB, an ENT-NB, anENT-eNB, a base station of a trusted-3GPP access network or the like.

The base station 114 a may be part of the RAN 104. As described in moredetail below, the RAN 104 may include base stations and/or networkelements other than the base station 114 a (not shown), such as a basestation controller (“BSC”), a radio network controller (“RNC”), relaynodes, etc. The base station 114 a and/or the base station 114 b may beconfigured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals within aparticular geographic region, which may be referred to as a cell (notshown). The cell may further be divided into cell sectors. For example,the cell associated with the base station 114 a may be divided intothree sectors. Thus, in one embodiment, the base station 114 a mayinclude three transceivers, i.e., one for each sector of the cell. Inanother embodiment, the base station 114 a may employ multiple-inputmultiple output (“MIMO”) technology and, therefore, may utilize multipletransceivers for each sector of the cell.

The base stations 114 a, 114 b may communicate with one or more of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and 102 d over an air interface 116, which maybe any suitable wireless communication link (e.g., radio frequency(“RF”), microwave, infrared (“IR”), ultraviolet (“UV”), visible light,etc.). The air interface 116 may be established using any suitable RAT.

More specifically, as noted above, the communications system 100 may bea multiple access system and may employ one or more channel accessschemes, such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and the like. Forexample, the base station 114 a in the RAN 104 and the WTRUs 102 a, 102b and 102 c may implement a radio technology such as Universal MobileTelecommunications System (“UMTS”) Terrestrial Radio Access (“UTRA”),which may establish the air interface 116 using wideband CDMA (“WCDMA”).WCDMA may include communication protocols such as High-Speed PacketAccess (“HSPA”) and/or Evolved HSPA (“HSPA+”). HSPA may includeHigh-Speed DL Packet Access (“HSDPA”) and/or High-Speed UL Packet Access(“HSUPA”).

In another embodiment, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 band 102 c may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UMTSTerrestrial Radio Access (“E-UTRA”), which may establish the airinterface 116 using Long Term Evolution (“LTE”) and/or LTE-Advanced(“LTE-A”).

In other embodiments, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 band 102 c may implement radio technologies such as IEEE 802.16 (i.e.,Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (“WiMAX”)), CDMA2000,CDMA2000 12X, CDMA2000 EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (“IS-2000”), InterimStandard 95 (“IS-95”), Interim Standard 856 (“IS-856”), Global Systemfor Mobile communications (“GSM”), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(“EDGE”), GSM EDGE (“GERAN”), and the like.

The base station 114 b in FIG. 1A may be a wireless router, Home Node-B,Home eNodeB, or access point, for example, and may utilize any suitableRAT for facilitating wireless connectivity in a localized area, such asa place of business, a home, a vehicle, a campus, and the like. In oneembodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102 d mayimplement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.11 to establish a wirelesslocal area network (“WLAN”). In another embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102 d may implement a radio technology such asIEEE 802.15 to establish a wireless personal area network (“WPAN”). Inyet another embodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102d may utilize a cellular-based RAT (e.g., WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, LTE,LTE-A, etc.) to establish a picocell or femtocell. As shown in FIG. 1A,the base station 114 b may have a direct connection to the Internet 110.Thus, the base station 114 b may not be required to access the Internet110 via the core network 106.

The RAN 104 may be in communication with the core network 106, which maybe any type of network configured to provide voice, data, applications,and/or voice over internet protocol (“VoIP”) services to one or more ofthe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and 102 d. For example, the core network106 may provide call control, billing services, mobile location-basedservices, pre-paid calling, Internet connectivity, video distribution,etc., and/or perform high-level security functions, such as userauthentication. Although not shown in FIG. 1A, it will be appreciatedthat the RAN 104 and/or the core network 106 may be in direct orindirect communication with other RANs that employ the same RAT as theRAN 104 or a different RAT. For example, in addition to being connectedto the RAN 104, which may be utilizing an E-UTRA radio technology, thecore network 106 may also be in communication with another RAN (notshown) employing a GSM radio technology.

The core network 106 may also serve as a gateway for the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c and 102 d to access the PSTN 108, the Internet 110, and/orother networks 112. The PSTN 108 may include circuit-switched telephonenetworks that provide plain old telephone service (“POTS”). The Internet110 may include a global system of interconnected computer networks anddevices that use common communication protocols, such as thetransmission control protocol (“TCP”), user datagram protocol (“UDP”)and the internet protocol (“IP”) in the TCP/IP internet protocol suite.The networks 112 may include wired or wireless communications networksowned and/or operated by other service providers. For example, thenetworks 112 may include another core network connected to one or moreRANs, which may employ the same RAT as the RAN 104 or a different RAT.

Some or all of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and 102 d of thecommunications system 100 may include multi-mode capabilities, i.e., theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and 102 d may include multiple transceiversfor communicating with different wireless networks over differentwireless links. For example, the WTRU 102 c shown in FIG. 1A may beconfigured to communicate with the base station 114 a, which may employa cellular-based radio technology, and with the base station 114 b,which may employ an IEEE 802 radio technology.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating example architecture of a WTRU,such as the WTRU 102 of FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1B, the WTRU 102 mayinclude a processor 118, a transceiver 120, a transmit/receive element122, a speaker/microphone 124, a keypad 126, a display/touchpad 128, anon-removable memory 130, a removable memory 132, a power source 134, aglobal positioning system (“GPS”) chipset 136, and other peripherals138. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 may include anysub-combination of the foregoing elements while remaining consistentwith an embodiment.

The processor 118 may be a general purpose processor, a special purposeprocessor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (“DSP”),a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors inassociation with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller,Application Specific Integrated Circuits (“ASICs”), Field ProgrammableGate Array (“FPGAs”) circuits, any other type of integrated circuit(“IC”), a state machine, and the like. The processor 118 may performsignal coding, data processing, power control, input/output processing,and/or any other functionality that enables the WTRU 102 to operate in awireless environment. The processor 118 may be coupled to thetransceiver 120, which may be coupled to the transmit/receive element122. While FIG. 1B depicts the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 asseparate components, it will be appreciated that the processor 118 andthe transceiver 120 may be integrated together in an electronic packageor chip.

The transmit/receive element 122 may be configured to transmit signalsto, or receive signals from, a base station (e.g., the base station 114a) over the air interface 116. For example, in one embodiment, thetransmit/receive element 122 may be an antenna configured to transmitand/or receive RF signals. In another embodiment, the transmit/receiveelement 122 may be an emitter/detector configured to transmit and/orreceive IR, UV, or visible light signals, for example. In yet anotherembodiment, the transmit/receive element 122 may be configured totransmit and receive both RF and light signals. It will be appreciatedthat the transmit/receive element 122 may be configured to transmitand/or receive any combination of wireless signals.

In addition, although the transmit/receive element 122 is depicted inFIG. 1B as a single element, the WTRU 102 may include any number oftransmit/receive elements 122. More specifically, the WTRU 102 mayemploy MIMO technology. Thus, in one embodiment, the WTRU 102 mayinclude two or more transmit/receive elements 122 (e.g., multipleantennas) for transmitting and receiving wireless signals over the airinterface 116.

The transceiver 120 may be configured to modulate the signals that areto be transmitted by the transmit/receive element 122 and to demodulatethe signals that are received by the transmit/receive element 122. Asnoted above, the WTRU 102 may have multi-mode capabilities. Thus, thetransceiver 120 may include multiple transceivers for enabling the WTRU102 to communicate via multiple RATs, such as UTRA and IEEE 802.11, forexample.

The processor 118 of the WTRU 102 may be coupled to, and may receiveuser input data from, the speaker/microphone 124, the keypad 126, and/orthe display/touchpad 128 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) displayunit or organic light-emitting diode (“OLED”) display unit). Theprocessor 118 may also output user data to the speaker/microphone 124,the keypad 126, and/or the display/touchpad 128. In addition, theprocessor 118 may access information from, and store data in, any typeof suitable memory, such as the non-removable memory 130 and/or theremovable memory 132. The non-removable memory 130 may includerandom-access memory (“RAM”), read-only memory (“ROM”), a hard disk, orany other type of memory storage device. The removable memory 132 mayinclude a subscriber identity (“ID”) module (“SIM”) card, a memorystick, a secure digital (“SD”) memory card, and the like. In otherembodiments, the processor 118 may access information from, and storedata in, memory that is not physically located on the WTRU 102, such ason a server or a home computer (not shown).

The processor 118 may receive power from the power source 134, and maybe configured to distribute and/or control the power to the othercomponents in the WTRU 102. The power source 134 may be any suitabledevice for powering the WTRU 102. For example, the power source 134 mayinclude one or more dry cell batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (“NiCd”),nickel-zinc (“NiZn”), nickel metal hydride (“NiMH”), lithium-ion(“Li-ion”), etc.), solar cells, fuel cells, and the like.

The processor 118 may also be coupled to the GPS chipset 136, which maybe configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude andlatitude) regarding the current location of the WTRU 102. In additionto, or in lieu of, the information from the GPS chipset 136, the WTRU102 may receive location information over the air interface 116 from abase station (e.g., base stations 114 a, 114 b) and/or determine itslocation based on the timing of the signals being received from two ormore nearby base stations. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 mayacquire location information by way of any suitablelocation-determination method while remaining consistent with anembodiment.

The processor 118 may further be coupled to other peripherals 138, whichmay include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provideadditional features, functionality and/or wired or wirelessconnectivity. For example, the peripherals 138 may include anaccelerometer, an e-compass, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera(for photographs or video), a universal serial bus (“USB”) port, avibration device, a television transceiver, a hands free headset, aBluetooth® module, a frequency modulated (“FM”) radio unit, a digitalmusic player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internetbrowser, and the like.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating example architectures of the RAN104 and core network 106 according to an embodiment. The RAN 104 may bean access service network (“ASN”) that employs IEEE 802.16 radiotechnology to communicate with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c over theair interface 116. As will be further discussed below, the communicationlinks between the different functional entities of the WTRUs 102 a, 102b and 102 c, the RAN 104, and the core network 106 may be defined asreference points.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the RAN 104 may include base stations 140 a, 140 band 140 c, and an ASN gateway 142, though it will be appreciated thatthe RAN 104 may include any number of base stations and ASN gatewayswhile remaining consistent with an embodiment. The base stations 140 a,140 b and 140 c may each be associated with a particular cell (notshown) in the RAN 104 and may each include one or more transceivers forcommunicating with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c over the airinterface 116. In one embodiment, the base stations 140 a, 140 b and 140c may implement MIMO technology. Thus, the base station 140 a, forexample, may use multiple antennas to transmit wireless signals to, andreceive wireless signals from, the WTRU 102 a. The base stations 140 a,140 b and 140 c may also provide mobility management functions, such ashandoff triggering, tunnel establishment, radio resource management,traffic classification, quality of service (“QoS”) policy enforcement,and the like. The ASN gateway 142 may serve as a traffic aggregationpoint and may be responsible for paging, caching of subscriber profiles,routing to the core network 106, and the like.

The air interface 116 between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c and theRAN 104 may be defined as an R1 reference point that implements the IEEE802.16 specification. In addition, each of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and102 c may establish a logical interface (not shown) with the corenetwork 106. The logical interface between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and102 c and the core network 106 may be defined as an R2 reference point,which may be used for authentication, authorization, IP hostconfiguration management, and/or mobility management.

The communication link between each of the base stations 140 a, 140 band 140 c may be defined as an R8 reference point that includesprotocols for facilitating WTRU handovers and the transfer of databetween base stations. The communication link between the base stations140 a, 140 b and 140 c and the ASN gateway 142 may be defined as an R6reference point. The R6 reference point may include protocols forfacilitating mobility management based on mobility events associatedwith each of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 100 c.

As shown in FIG. 1C, the RAN 104 may be connected to the core network106. The communication link between the RAN 104 and the core network 106may be defined as an R3 reference point that includes protocols forfacilitating data transfer and mobility management capabilities, forexample. The core network 106 may include a mobile IP (“MIP”) home agent(“MIP-HA”) 144, an authentication, authorization, accounting (“AAA”)server 146, and a gateway 148. While each of the foregoing elements isdepicted as part of the core network 106, it will be appreciated thatany one of these elements may be owned and/or operated by an entityother than the core network operator.

The MIP-HA may be responsible for IP address management, and may enablethe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c to roam between different ASNs and/ordifferent core networks. The MIP-HA 144 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102b and 102 c with access to packet-switched networks, such as theInternet 110, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102b and 102 c and IP-enabled devices. The AAA server 146 may beresponsible for user authentication and for supporting user services.The gateway 148 may facilitate interworking with other networks. Forexample, the gateway 148 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 cwith access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, tofacilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c andtraditional land-line communications devices. In addition, the gateway148 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c with access to thenetworks 112, which may include other wired or wireless networks thatare owned and/or operated by other service providers.

Although not shown in FIG. 1C, it will be appreciated that the RAN 104may be connected to other ASNs and the core network 106 may be connectedto other core networks. The communication link between the RAN 104 theother ASNs may be defined as an R4 reference point, which may includeprotocols for coordinating the mobility of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and102 c between the RAN 104 and the other ASNs. The communication linkbetween the core network 106 and the other core networks may be definedas an R5 reference, which may include protocols for facilitatinginterworking between home core networks and visited core networks.

FIG. 1D is a block diagram illustrating an example of the RAN 104 andthe core network 106. As noted above, the RAN 104 may employ a UTRAradio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 cover the air interface 116. The RAN 104 may also be in communicationwith the core network 106. As shown in FIG. 1D, the RAN 104 may includeNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b and 140 c, which may each include one or moretransceivers for communicating with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 cover the air interface 116. The Node-Bs 140 a, 140 b and 140 c may eachbe associated with a particular cell (not shown) within the RAN 104. TheRAN 104 may also include RNCs 142 a, 142 b. It will be appreciated thatthe RAN 104 may include any number of Node-Bs and RNCs while remainingconsistent with an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1D, the Node-Bs 140 a, 140 b may be in communicationwith the RNC 142 a. Additionally, the Node-B 140 c may be incommunication with the RNC 142 b. The Node-Bs 140 a, 140 b and 140 c maycommunicate with the respective RNCs 142 a, 142 b via an Iub interface.The RNCs 142 a, 142 b may be in communication with one another via anIur interface. Each of the RNCs 142 a, 142 b may be configured tocontrol the respective Node-Bs 140 a, 140 b and 140 c to which it isconnected. In addition, each of the RNCs 142 a, 142 b may be configuredto carry out or support other functionality, such as outer loop powercontrol, load control, admission control, packet scheduling, handovercontrol, macrodiversity, security functions, data encryption, and thelike.

The core network 106 shown in FIG. 1D may include a media gateway(“MGW”) 144, a mobile switching center (“MSC”) 146, a serving GPRSsupport node (“SGSN”) 148, and/or a gateway GPRS support node (“GGSN”)150. While each of the foregoing elements is depicted as part of thecore network 106, it will be appreciated that any one of these elementsmay be owned and/or operated by an entity other than the core networkoperator.

The RNC 142 a in the RAN 104 may be connected to the MSC 146 in the corenetwork 106 via an IuCS interface. The MSC 146 may be connected to theMGW 144. The MSC 146 and the MGW 144 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 band 102 c with access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN108, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102c and traditional land-line communications devices.

The RNC 142 a in the RAN 104 may also be connected to the SGSN 148 inthe core network 106 via an IuPS interface. The SGSN 148 may beconnected to the GGSN 150. The SGSN 148 and the GGSN 150 may provide theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c with access to packet-switched networks,such as the Internet 110, to facilitate communications between and theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c and IP-enabled devices.

As noted above, the core network 106 may also be connected to thenetworks 112, which may include other wired or wireless networks thatare owned and/or operated by other service providers.

FIG. 1E is a block diagram illustrating an example of the RAN 104 andthe core network 106. As noted above, the RAN 104 may employ an E-UTRAradio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 cover the air interface 116. The RAN 104 may also be in communicationwith the core network 106.

The RAN 104 may include eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b and 140 c, though it willbe appreciated that the RAN 104 may include any number of eNode-Bs whileremaining consistent with an embodiment. The eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b and140 c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating withthe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c over the air interface 116. In oneembodiment, the eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b and 140 c may implement MIMOtechnology. Thus, the eNode-B 140 a, for example, may use multipleantennas to transmit wireless signals to, and receive wireless signalsfrom, the WTRU 102 a.

Each of the eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b and 140 c may be associated with aparticular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radioresource management decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of usersin the uplink and/or downlink, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1E, theeNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b and 140 c may communicate with one another over anX2 interface.

The core network 106 shown in FIG. 1E may include a mobility managementgateway (“MME”) 142, a serving gateway 144, and a packet data network(“PDN”) gateway 146. While each of the foregoing elements is depicted aspart of the core network 106, it will be appreciated that any one ofthese elements may be owned and/or operated by an entity other than thecore network operator.

The MME 142 may be connected to each of the eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b and140 c in the RAN 104 via an S1 interface and may serve as a controlnode. For example, the MME 142 may be responsible for authenticatingusers of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c, beareractivation/deactivation, selecting a particular serving gateway duringan initial attach of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c, and the like. TheMME 142 may also provide a control plane function for switching betweenthe RAN 104 and other RANs (not shown) that employ other radiotechnologies, such as GSM or WCDMA.

The serving gateway 144 may be connected to each of the eNode Bs 140 a,140 b and 140 c in the RAN 104 via the S1 interface. The serving gateway144 may generally route and forward user data packets to/from the WTRUs102 a, 102 b and 102 c. The serving gateway 144 may also perform otherfunctions, such as anchoring user planes during inter-eNode B handovers,triggering paging when downlink data is available for the WTRUs 102 a,102 b and 102 c, managing and storing contexts of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 band 102 c, and the like.

The serving gateway 144 may also be connected to the PDN gateway 146,which may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c with access topacket-switched networks, such as the Internet 110, to facilitatecommunications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c and IP-enableddevices.

The core network 106 may facilitate communications with other networks.For example, the core network 106 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and102 c with access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, tofacilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c andtraditional land-line communications devices. For example, the corenetwork 106 may include, or may communicate with, an IP gateway (e.g.,an IP multimedia subsystem (“IMS”) server) that serves as an interfacebetween the core network 106 and the PSTN 108. In addition, the corenetwork 106 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b and 102 c with access tothe networks 112, which may include other wired or wireless networksthat are owned and/or operated by other service providers.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communicationssystem 200 in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implementedand/or carried out. The communications system 200 may be suitable forimplementing and/or carrying out any of BWM, BWA, flow management, IFOMand the like to IP traffic that may be carried among multiple accessesand/or access systems. And like the communications system 100 of FIGS.1A-E, the communications system 200 may include multiple access systemsconfigured in accordance with different access technologies.

The communications system 200 may include a WTRU 202 and a network 203.The network 203 may be configured, for example, in accordance with ahome mobility service architecture for interworking WLAN (“I-WLAN”)mobility. The network 203 may include first and second access systems205 ₁, 205 ₂, a home agent (“HA”) 207, an authentication, authorizationand accounting (“AAA”) server 246, a home subscriber server (“HSS”) 218and network control nodes 230 interfacing with the HA 207. The AAAserver 246 may be, for example, a 3GPP AAA server. As shown, the HA 207may communicate with an external PDN 210 via an HGi interface. Theexternal PDN 210 may be, for example, any of a public internet networkand an operator service network.

The first access system 205 ₁ may be configured in accordance with atleast one release of 3GPP, and/or an access technology protocol of anon-3GPP cellular or cellular-like protocol (collectively hereinafter“3GPP/Cellular access system 205 ₁”). The 3GPP/Cellular access system205 ₁ may include, for example, a GERAN/UTRAN 204 ₁, a SGSN 248 and aGGSN/access router (“AR”) 250.

The GERAN/UTRAN 204 ₁ may communicate with the WTRU 202 via a Uu/Uminterface, and with the SGSN 248 via an lu_ps/Gb interface. The SGSN 248may communicate with the GGSN/AR 250 using a Gn interface. The GGSN/AR250 may communicate with the HA 207 via a connection established usingan H3 reference point (“H3 connectivity”).

The second access system 205 ₂ may be configured in accordance with anaccess technology of a WLAN, WPAN and like-type wireless networks(collectively hereinafter “WLAN access system 205 ₂”). The WLAN accesssystem 205 ₂ may include a WLAN access network 204 ₂, a WLAN accessgateway (“WAG”) 242 and a PDG/AR 216. The WLAN access network 205 ₂ maycommunicate with the WTRU 202 via a Ww interface, and with the WAG 242via a Wn interface. The WAG 1314, in turn, may communicate with thePDG/AR 216 using a Wp interface. The PDG/AR 216 may communicate with theHA 207 using H3 connectivity.

The WTRU 202 may communicate with the PDG/AR 216 via a Wu interface. TheWu interface may be a defined interface of the WLAN access network 205₂, for example. The WTRU 202 and the HA 207 may communicate via aconnection established using, for example, an H1 reference point(“H2connection”). The H1 connection may be established via any of the3GPP/Cellular and WLAN access systems 205 ₁, 205 ₂. The H1 interface maybe realized via a Dual Stack MIP (“DSMIP”) tunnel between the WTRU 202and HA 207 inside an IPSec tunnel between the WTRU 202 and PDG/AR 216.

The HA 207 and WTRU 202 may, for example, exchange signaling messagesover the H1 connection. The signaling messages may include DSMIPv4signaling messages; DSMIPv6 signaling messages; signaling messages thatare based on, extensions of, related to, modifications of the DSMIPv4and DSMIPv6 signaling messages; and other like-type signaling messages(collectively “DSMIP signaling messages”). Examples of the DSMIPsignaling messages include a binding update (“BU”) message, a bindingacknowledgment (“BA”) message, a reject binding update (“Rej-BU”)message, a modify binding update request (“Mod-BU”) message and abinding confirmation (“BC”) message.

The HA 207 and WTRU 202 may use the DSMIP signaling messages, forexample, to keep track of which of the 3GPP/Cellular and WLAN accesssystems 205 ₁, 205 ₂ the WTRU 220 is camping on and/or has recentlycamped on. The HA 207 and WTRU 202 may also use the DSMIP signalingmessages to facilitate multi access PDN connectivity (“MAPCON”) and IFOM(“MAPIM”). Both WTRU-initiated and network-initiated MAPIM may becarried out, such as described in detail in, for example, U.S. Prov.Pat. Appln. Ser. No. 61/514,895, filed on 3 Aug. 2011, and entitled“Network-Initiated and/or Network-Managed Internet Protocol FlowMobility across Multiple-Access Technologies” and PCT InternationalPatent Application Number PCT/US2011/50577, filed on 7 Sep. 2011, andentitled “Bandwidth Management, Aggregation and Internet Protocol FlowMobility across Multiple-Access Technologies”. The DSMIP signalingmessages may traverse the H1 connection using UDP over IP, and may betransparent to the GGSN/AR 250 and the PDG/AR 216.

Although the HA 207 is shown as a stand-alone entity in FIG. 2, the HA207 may be co-located with and/or distributed among any of the GGSN/AR250, PDG/AR 216 or another entity of the 3GPP/Cellular and/or WLANaccess systems 205 ₁, 205 ₂ (not shown). Alternatively, functionality ofthe HA 207 may be distributed among any of the GGSN/AR 250, PDG/AR 216or another entity of the 3GPP/Cellular and/or WLAN access systems 205 ₁,205 ₂.

FIGS. 3A-3C are block diagrams illustrating an example of acommunications system 300 in which one or more disclosed embodiments maybe implemented and/or carried out. The communications system 300 may besuitable for implementing and/or carrying out any of BWM, BWA, flowmanagement, IFOM and the like to IP traffic that may be carried overamong multiple accesses and/or access systems; some, all or none ofwhich use different access technologies.

The communications system 300 may include a WTRU 302 and an enhancedpacket core (“EPC”) network (shown generally 303). The EPC network 303may include a 3GPP access 304 ₁, a trusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂, anuntrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₃; a HA 307 (FIG. 3B), a HSS and/or asubscriber profile repository (“SPR”) (collectively “HSS/SPR”) 318,Policy and Charging Control (“PCC”) architecture shown generally as 319(FIG. 3C), an access network discovery and selection function (“ANDSF”)322, a network monitoring and control function (“NMCF”) 324, an evolvedPDG (“ePDG”) 326, a 3GPP AAA server 346, a SGW 364, a PGW 366 and aretransmission coordination function (“RCF”) 368.

The PCC architecture 319 may support both 3GPP networks and non-3GPPnetworks interfacing with the EPC network 303. The PCC architecture 319may also support dynamic PCC for IFOM among multiple simultaneous 3GPPand non-3GPP access connections, e.g., among any of the 3GPP access 304₁, trusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂, and untrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₃(collectively “accesses 304 ₁₋₃”). The PCC architecture 319 may include,as a baseline, the 3GPP PCC architecture due to general acceptance ofsuch framework by non-3GPP and fixed broadband networks as well as 3GPP,but the concepts may be applied to other architectures as well. Theoverall PCC architecture 319 may include elements in addition to and/orin lieu of the 3GPP PCC architecture.

The PCC architecture 319 may handle policy and charging for the IPMultimedia Subsystem (“IMS”) over operator IP networks, for example, QoSpolicy control and flow-based charging. The PCC architecture 319 mayalso handle policy and charging for non-IMS services, includingover-the-top services (e.g., video streaming services on the Internet).In various embodiments, preconfigured PCC rules may be used on specifictypes of IP traffic identified via packet inspection (e.g., deep packetinspection (“DPI”)) and/or some other technique or method.

The PCC architecture 319 may perform QoS policy control. The QoS policycontrol may be used to ensure that delivery of one or more specifiedsets of IP user plane packets, defined as a service data flow (“SDF”),is maintained at or above a guaranteed bit rate (if specified), and/orto ensure that such delivery does not exceed a specified maximum bitrate. In various embodiments, the guaranteed bit rate may be used toallocate network resources, while the maximum bit rate may be used toenforce the maximum bit rate that the SDF may consume. The SDF may beidentified by a 5-tuple. The 5-tuple may include, for example, a sourceIP address, a destination IP address, a source port number, adestination port number, and a transport protocol (TCP/UDP).

The PCC policy rules may be maintained in a policy and charging rulesfunction (“PCRF”) 320 and enforced by a policy charging and enforcementfunction (“PCEF”) 370 (FIG. 3B). The PCEF 370 may be a function of, orcollocated in the PGW 366 (or, alternatively, in a GGSN of apacket-switched core network (“PS CN”)). The PCEF 370 may reside in theuser plane, and may function to ensure that the PCC policy rules arefollowed. The PCEF 370 may apply, for example, (i) QoS policies relatedto gating (block/allow) and traffic shaping (reduce the bandwidth), and(ii), online and offline charging policies. The QoS policies may be atSDF-level or other level of granularity.

The PCC architecture 319 may include several (e.g., open) interfaces.These interfaces may include, for example, an Rx interface and a Gxinterface. The Rx interface may allow an application function (“AF”) 372(FIG. 3C) in any of the PDNs 310 to provide SDF information, includingQoS requirements, to the PCRF 320 using a Diameter protocol. The PCRF320 may use such information as input to PCC rule generation.

The PCRF 320 may receive a request containing media level informationabout a flow from the AF 372. The PCRF 320 may analyze the offeredcharacteristics (set forth in the request) against operator definedpolicy, and authorize a certain QoS reservation and/or reject therequest from the AF 372. The PCRF may download service-related and/orsubscriber-related information from the HSS/SPR 318. As described inmore detail below, the PCRF 320 may also provide rules (e.g., PCC rules,event report triggers, etc.) to the PCEF 370.

The PCRF 320 may have dynamic control over PCC behavior at a PCEF 370.Such dynamic control may be enabled by the Gx interface. Some PCC rulesmay be pre-configured, and the PCEF 370 may apply these rules tospecific types of IP traffic. The specific types of IP traffic may beidentified by way of packet inspection, for example.

In addition to using GPRS Tunneling Protocol (“GTP”) to provide accessto the PGW 366 (or, a GGSN), the PCC architecture 319 may use InternetEngineering Task Force (“IETF”) based Mobile IP (“MIP”) protocols (e.g.,any of MIPv4, PMIPv6 and DSMIPv6) to facilitate convergence of thetrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂, untrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₃, andother systems, such as 3GPP2, WLAN, and WiMAX (not shown) with thenon-3GPP systems. To facilitate the use of MIP protocols that do notsupport the QoS-related signaling inherent in GTP, the PCC architecture319 may include a Bearer Binding and Event Reporting Function (“BBERF”)374. The BBERF 374 may include a Diameter-based Gxx interface for QoSinformation conveyed from the PCRF 320.

The PCC architecture 319 may also support access to home services ordirect local services when roaming in a visited Private Land MobileNetwork (“PLMN”) (not shown). This support may be enabled by PCC policypeering via a Diameter-based S9 interface between Home and VisitedPCRFs, for example.

Although not shown, the EPC network 303 may include a User DataRepository (“UDR”), instead of the HSS/SPR 318, to store PCC relatedsubscription data, if, for example, a User Data Convergence (“UDC”)architecture is employed. The PCC architecture 319 may include a TrafficDetection Function (“TDF”) 376. The TDF 376 may perform applicationtraffic detection, notification, and policy control for traffic detectedon the 3GPP access 304 ₁, trusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂, and untrustednon-3GPP access 304 ₃. The PCC architecture 319 may support an SPR-basedarchitecture for roaming with home-routed access, which may befacilitated by S9 roaming interfaces and the TDF 376.

The PCC architecture 319 may handle multiple simultaneous accessconnections, and support for DSMIPv6 based IFOM, including bothWTRU-initiated and/or network-initiated IFOM. The support for such IFOMmay involve the PCEF 370 keeping the PCRF 320 up to date about a currentrouting address and IFOM routing rules for each IP flow. The IFOMrouting rules may include information that the PCRF 320 may use toinstall, in the PCEF 370, the QoS rules for SDFs subject to flowmobility. The IFOM routing rules may be provided to the PCRF 320 fromthe PCEF 370 during session establishment or modification. The PCEF 370may derive the IFOM routing rules based on flow binding informationreceived from the WTRU 302.

The PCC architecture 319 may also include an Event Reporting Function(“ERF”) (not shown). The ERF may perform event trigger detection. TheERF, for example, may report an event to the PCRF 320 responsive to theevent matching the event trigger. The ERF may be integrated into,integral to, combined with co-located with any of the PCEF 370, BBERF374 and TDF 376 for solicited application reporting (if applicable).

The PCRF 320 may accept input for PCC decision-making from any of thePCEF 370, BBERF 374, TDF 376, the HSS/SPR 318, AF 372, and itself. Oneor more PCC policy rules, QoS control rules, IP-CAN bearer/sessionpolicy information rules, usage monitoring control information rules,IFOM routing rules and application detection and control (ADC) rules maybe handled by the PCC architecture 319. For example, the SDFs may bemapped to PCC policy rules sent to the PCEF 370. These PCC policy rulesmay include a rule name, a service identifier, one or more SDF filters,precedence, gate status (open/closed), QoS parameters, charging key(rating group), other charging parameters, and the like.

The QoS control rules sent to BBERF 374 may include a subset of the PCCpolicy rules. As an example, the QoS control rules may include the rulename, one or more of the SDF filters, the precedence and the QoSparameters. Alternatively, the QoS control rules may be the same as thePCC policies rules. The QoS parameters provided in both of the PCCpolicy rules and the QoS control rules may include a QoS ClassIdentifier (“QCI”), reserved bit rates for guaranteed bearers, maximumbit rates for best effort bearers, allocation/retention priority(“ARP”), APN-Aggregated Maximum Bit Rate (“AMBR”), and the like. The QoSparameters may include other parameters, as well.

Bearer binding may involve association of PCC policy rules to an accessbearer. For GTP-based access, both charging and QoS rule enforcement maybe carried out by the PCEF 370. For PMIPv6 access, the QoS informationmight not be conveyed using GTP-based protocols. A Diameter-basedcontrol protocol may be used over the Gxx interface instead to conveythe QoS rules to the BBERF 374. In various embodiments, the bearerbinding may occur in the BBERF 374, but charging and/or gating may becarried out in the PCEF 370.

The ANDSF 322 may provide 3GPP/non-3GPP interworking information for theWTRU 302 over an IP-based S14 interface, for example. In general, theANDSF 322 may enable carrier to balance subscribers among the availableaccesses 304 ₁₋₃ using best access selection criteria based on currentrequirements of the WTRU 302. The ANDSF 322 may provide support for IFOMas currently standardized using DSMIPv6 or otherwise.

The ANDSF 322 may assist the WTRU 302 in discovery of the non-3GPPaccesses, such as the trusted and untrusted non-3GPP accesses 304 ₂, 304₃. The ANDSF 322 may provide the WTRU 302 with rules for policing theconnection to these networks, such as, inter-system mobility policies(“ISMP”) and inter-system routing policies (“ISRP”) using, for example,a management object (“MO”) (“ANDSF MO”). The relation between the ISMP,the ISRP and discovery information may be that (i) the ISMP prioritizeaccesses 304 ₁₋₃ when the WTRU 302 is not capable of connecting to theEPC network 303 through multiple accesses, (ii) the ISRP indicate how todistribute traffic among available accesses 304 ₁₋₃ when the WTRU 302 iscapable of connecting to the EPC network 303 through the multipleaccesses (e.g., the WTRU 302 is configured for IFOM, MAPCON,non-seamless WLAN offload or any combination of these capabilities); and(iii) and the discovery information provides further information for theWTRU 302 to access the accesses 304 ₁₋₃ defined in the ISMP and/or theISRP.

The ISMP may enable IP flow level control. The ISMP may be provided by aMNO, and may be defined per access point name (“APN”), per IP flow classunder any APN or per IP flow class under a specific APN. The ISMP may bedefined in other ways, as well. The IP flow class may be identified viaany of a media type (e.g. audio), IMS Communication Service Identifier(e.g., MMTEL) for IMS applications and respective 5-tuple (IP sourceaddress, IP destination address, source port, destination port, protocoltype) for any type of application. The 5-tuple may include wildcardvalues in any of the possible fields. For example, the ANDSF 322 mayindicate that 3GPP access 304 ₁ has a highest priority access for agiven IP flow class, and the untrusted-non-3GPP access 304 ₃ has ahighest priority access for another IP flow class.

The ISRP may provide the capability to identify traffic based on typesof information, including extrinsic information available to the WTRU302, such as the APN, and IP packet header information. The IP packetheader information may include, for example, transport protocol,destination port and destination IP address.

The ANDSF 322 may also be adapted to perform traffic identificationand/or record traffic-identification information. Identification of thetraffic may be based on (i) throughput (e.g., identifying traffic basedon the total amount of data sent/received); (ii) an application (e.g.,identifying traffic based on an application ID/name/etc.); (iii) contenttype (e.g., identifying traffic based on the type of content (e.g.video, audio, data, control, etc.); and (iv) destination domain (e.g.,identifying traffic based on the destination domain, such as the fullyqualified destination name (“FQDN”) in the web request). Thetraffic-detection information may be stored in the ANDSF MO along withother ANDSF information described herein and/or set forth in 3GPP TS24.312.

The ANDSF 322 may receive from the WTRU 302 an indication of itscapability to support ISMP and/or ISRP when, for example, the WTRU 302is in the process of establishing a connection. The ANDSF 322 mayprovide the policies (e.g., the ISMP and/or ISRP) to the WTRU 302, and,based on the provided policies, the WTRU 302 may request the PGW 366(e.g., the HA 307 per DSMIPv6-based IFOM) to route IP flows to the 3GPPaccess 304 ₁, trusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂, and/or untrusted non-3GPPaccess 304 ₃; as appropriate

In various embodiments, the communications system 300 may includesupport (e.g., any of an interface or reference point) for establishingand/or exploiting interaction (direct or otherwise) between the PCCarchitecture 319 and ANDSF 322 including, for example, handling ofpotential policy-related conflicts. The ANDSF 322, PCC architecture 319and functionality provided herein may include elements and functions topermit interaction between the ANDSF 322 and PCC architecture 319 tofacilitate policy-based flow management among any of the accesses 304₁₋₃. The policy-based flow management may allow MNOs to provide userswith an expected quality of experience (“QoE”). The expected QoE may beobtained through, for example, one or more polices (“BWM policies”) formanaging bandwidth among any of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃. Some or all of theBWM policies may be configured to make flexible and/or efficient use ofnetwork resources. The interaction may be manifested as control planefunctionality (e.g., signaling) between ANDSF 322 and entities of thePCC architecture 319, such as, for example, between the ANDSF 322 andthe PCRF 320. The control plane signaling may subsequently affect userplane paths delivering data services.

Depending on capabilities of the WTRU 302 and network, policy-basedtraffic management may be employed to 1) identify and segregate IP dataflows (“IP flows”) based on a type of service in use (e.g., “flowidentification” and “flow filtering”, respectively), and/or 2) assignspecific flows or sub-flows over at least two of the accesses 304_(1-s)imultaneously (“flow routing” and “sub-flow routing”,respectively).

Mobility signaling may be used to provide routing information to thenetwork (e.g., PGW/HA 366/307 in the EPC network 303), resulting inpossible establishment, modification, or deletion of bearers carrying IPflows. The PCC signaling may used to provide QoS rules and event reporttriggers to the appropriate gateways (e.g., e.g., PGW/PCEF 366/370 inthe EPC network 303) at a SDF or other level based on a current routingof IP flows.

In addition to WTRU-initiated mobility signaling to the DSMIPv6 HomeAgent (HA) 307 to trigger the PCEF-to-PCRF PCC signaling, signalingbetween the WTRU 302 and ANDSF 322, and between the ANDSF 322 and PCRF320 may be carried out. For example, measurements or metrics about(e.g., performance of) the network (e.g., local operating environments)may be collected by the WTRU 302 and one or more RANs. Thesemeasurements and/or metrics (collectively “measurements”) may beextracted from RAT drivers, application statistics, etc., for example.

Once collected, various reporting mechanism may be used by the WTRU 302and/or RANs to report the measurements to any of the ANDSF 322 and PCRF320. As an example, the measurements may be reported back to the ANDSF322 by storing the measurements in the ANDSF MO (“UE-MO”) at the WTRU302, and synchronizing the ANDSF MO (“NETWORK-MO”) at the ANDSF 322using any of a push and/or pull model.

To facilitate reporting the measurements along with other information(e.g., policy information) to the PCRF 320, the PCRF 320 may establish aconnection (direct or otherwise) with the ANDSF 322 over a definedinterface. This interface may be defined in accordance with astandardized or proprietary protocol. For example, the interface may bedefined in accordance with any of a Diameter protocol, Diameterapplication and a protocol based on the Diameter protocol. Alternativelythe interface may be defined in accordance with a device management(“DM”) protocol, such as, for example, Open-Mobile Alliance (“OMA”) DMprotocol. The PCRF 320 may also establish a connection with the WTRU 302via the connection with the ANDSF 322.

Although the PGW 366 includes the functionality of HA 307, as shown inFIG. 3B, such functionality of the HA 307 may be implemented as astand-alone entity or as an entity of the EPC network 303 other than thePGW 366. As an alternative, the functionality of the HA 307 may bedistributed among a number of entities of the EPC network 303. Asanother alternative, the HA 307 may be co-located with any of the PGW366 and another entity of the EPC network 303 (not shown).

The EPC network 303 may define a 3GPP access system 305 ₁, atrusted-non-3GPP-access system 305 ₂ (e.g., a levDo access system) andan untrusted-non-3GPP-access system 305 ₃ (e.g., a WLAN access system)As shown, the 3GPP access system 305 ₁ may include the 3GPP access 304₁, the SGW 364 and the PGW 366. The trusted-non-3GPP-access system 305 ₂may include the trusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂, and the PGW 366. Thetrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂ may include an access gateway (“AGW”) 375communicatively coupled with the PGW 366 and one or more of the basestations of the trusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂ (not shown). Theuntrusted-non-3GPP-access system 305 ₃ may include the untrustednon-3GPP access 304 ₃, the ePDG 326 and the PGW 366.

The WTRU 302 may exchange DSMIP signaling messages with the HA 307 viaany of the 3GPP access system 305 ₁, trusted-non-3GPP-access system 305₂ and untrusted-non-3GPP-access system 305 ₃ The DSMIP signalingmessages may be carried via an S2c interface or any other suitableinterface.

The NMCF 324 may obtain performance metrics associated with any of theaccesses 304 ₁₋₃. The NMCF 324 may, for example, collect performancemetrics, such as, congestion, connectivity, loading, latency, etc.associated with local radio and/or backhaul links, via interfaces on theaccesses 304 ₁₋₃. Alternatively, the NMCF 324 may garner the performancemetrics from one or more network condition reports (e.g., radio reports)associated with the accesses 304 ₁₋₃. The network condition reports mayemanate from any of (i) the WTRU(s) 302 (“WTRU network conditionreport(s)”); (ii) the untrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₃ (“untrusted-accessnetwork condition report(s)”), trusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂(“trusted-access network condition report(s)”) and the 3GPP access 304 ₁(“3GPP network condition report(s)”). The NMCF 324 may receive thenetwork condition reports directly from the WTRUs 302 and/or theaccesses 304 ₁₋₃. Alternatively and/or additionally, the NMCF 324 mayreceive the network condition reports by way of one or more networkentities, such as any of the PCRF 320, ANDSF 322, HSS/SPR 318 and PGW366.

The WTRU network condition reports, individually or collectively, mayinclude one or more of the performance metrics associated with one ormore of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃, as detected, measured or otherwiseobtained by the WTRUs 302. The WTRU network condition reports,individually or collectively, may include, in addition to or in lieu ofsuch performance metrics, information from which one or more performancemetrics may be derived, generated or otherwise obtained (hereinafter“performance information”).

The untrusted-access network condition reports, individually orcollectively, may include one or more of the performance metrics and/orperformance information associated with the untrusted non-3GPP access304 ₃, as detected, measured or otherwise obtained by one or more BSs(e.g., WLAN APs) of the untrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₃. Thetrusted-access network condition reports may include one or more of theperformance metrics and/or performance information associated with thetrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂, as detected, measured or otherwiseobtained by one or more BSs (e.g., H/E(e)NBs) of the trusted non-3GPPaccess 304 ₂. The 3GPP-RAN reports, individually or collectively, mayinclude one or more of the performance metrics and/or performanceinformation associated with the 3GPP access 304 ₁, as detected, measuredor otherwise obtained by one or more BSs (e.g., NBs and/or eNBs) of the3GPP access 304 ₁.

For scalability, the performance metrics, performance information and/orthe network condition reports may be aggregated by network edge nodes(aggregation points) for exchange with the NMCF 324. In variousembodiments, the ePDG 326 may be the aggregation point for theperformance metrics, performance information and/or network conditionreports associated with the untrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₃. The AGW 375may be the aggregation point for the performance metrics, performanceinformation and/or network condition reports associated with the trustednon-3GPP access 304 ₂. The SGW 364 may be the aggregation point for theperformance metrics, performance information and/or network conditionreports associated with the 3GPP access 304 ₁. Aggregation may becarried out using, for example, an OMA-type interface. The OMA-typeinterface may permit exchange of the performance metrics, performanceinformation and/or network condition reports, including, for example,alarm notifications.

In various embodiments, the NMCF 324 may obtain the performance metrics,performance information and/or network condition reports on a real-timeand/or a near real-time basis. The real-time and/or near real-time basismay allow for decisions to be made more accurately than those made usinga non-real-time and/or non-near-real-time basis.

The NMCF 324 may use probing and/or passive monitoring techniques tocollect, derive, generate or otherwise obtain the performance metrics.The NMCF 324 may, for example, probe and/or passively monitor theperformance information and/or network condition reports, and generateperformance metrics based, at least in part, on the performanceinformation and/or network condition reports. The NMCF 324 may evaluatethe performance metrics, and provide the performance metrics and/or anevaluation of the performance metrics to various entities of thecommunications system 100. For example, the NMCF 324 may monitor andgenerate, from the performance information and/or network conditionreports, performance metrics related to packet retransmissions(“retransmission metrics”) for any of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃. Suchretransmission metrics may include, for example, statistics related tothe packet retransmissions, such as, a number or rate of the packettransmissions.

The NMCF 324 may also send the retransmission metrics to the RCF 368responsive to such metrics (e.g., the number or rate of retransmissions)for any of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃ exceeding, approaching and/or satisfyinga threshold (“retransmission threshold”). The retransmission thresholdmay be and/or be based on a maximum number or rate of retransmissions,and may be defined by a MNO. Values of the retransmission threshold maybe defined as policies per access in the PCRF 320. The performancemetrics related to packet retransmission may be sent on a per accessbasis or otherwise.

The RCF 368 may receive the retransmission metrics the NCMF 324 and maydecide whether or not to switch retransmitted packets from one of theaccesses 304 ₁₋₃ to another. When the number of retransmissions on anyof the accesses 304 ₁₋₃ exceeds, approaches and/or satisfies theretransmission-threshold policy value, the RCF 368 may decide tore-route one or more retransmitted packets from one of the accesses 304₁₋₃ to another. The RCF 368 may make such decision based on a comparisonof values of the retransmission threshold of each of the accesses andvalues of the retransmission metrics. The RCF 368 may use retransmissionrates (e.g., as defined by MNO policies in the PCRF 320). The RCF 368may receive values of the retransmission threshold of each of theaccesses and values of the retransmission metrics as policies. As anexample, if the untrusted-3GPP (e.g., a 2 Mbps Wi-Fi) access 304 ₃ istransmitting packets of 1000 bits, and the retransmission threshold of250 retransmissions per second is satisfied (i.e., a large number ofpackets are retransmitted), the RCF 368 may decide to switch the packetsto any of the 3GPP access 304 ₁ and trusted non-3GPP access 304 ₂,exhibiting a lower retransmission rate.

In cellular systems, advanced retransmission technologies, e.g., chasecombining or incremental redundancy, may enable a high probability ofsuccessful retransmissions. Since such technologies might not bedeployed in WLAN systems, the RCF 368 may decide when retransmissionpacket traffic may be switched from one of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃ toanother with support of (i) operator-based policies stored in the PCRF320, and (ii) any of the performance metrics, performance informationand network condition reports sent from the NMCF 324.

The NMCF 324 may provide any of the performance metrics, performanceinformation and/or network condition reports to the PCEF 370 (FIG. 3B).The NMCF 324 may directly exchange such information with the PCRF 320via an interface defined between the NMCF 324 and PCRF 320. Thisinterface may be, for example, an S7a interface. The S7a interface maybe based on (e.g., a modification of) a S7/Gx interface. Alternatively,may be a S7/Gx interface.

The NMCF 324 may provide any of the performance metrics, performanceinformation and/or network condition reports to the ANDSF 322. The NMCF324 may directly exchange such information with the ANDSF 322 via aninterface defined between the NMCF 324 and ANDSF 322, such as, forexample, an S7a interface.

The NMCF 324 may also send to the ANDSF 322 information for updating,modifying or otherwise adapting one or more policies (“policy-adaptinginformation”), including, for example, WTRU-specific policies, based onthe performance metrics, performance information and/or networkcondition reports. The WTRU 302 may request the policy-adaptinginformation from the ANDSF 322, or, alternatively, the policy-adaptinginformation may be pushed to the WTRU 302 based on some event triggerand/or via synchronization.

Alternatively, the NMCF 324 may send the policy-adapting information tothe SPR 318, if, for example, a direct interface between NMCF 324 andANDSF 322 is not available. The SPR 318 may provide the policy-adaptinginformation to the ANDSF 322 so as to allow to the ANDSF 322 to modifythe policies, including the WTRU-specific policies, based on theperformance metrics (e.g., current network loads). An interface betweenANDSF 322 and SPR 318 may be realized as a manifestation of the Udinterface. The interface between the NMCF 324 and PCRF may 320 also berealized via Ud interface (not shown) or an S7a interface, for example.

Although not shown in FIGS. 3A-3C, the AGW 375 may include the BBERF 374to facilitate using PMIPv6 between the PGW 366 and the non-3GPP accesses304 ₁₋₂. As another alternative, the BBERF 374 may be disposed in theSGW 364 to facilitate using PMIPv6 between the PGW 366 and the 3GPPaccess 304 ₁.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communicationssystem 400 in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implementedand/or carried out. The communications system 400 may be suitable forimplementing and/or carrying out any of BWM, BWA, flow management, IFOMand the like to IP traffic that may be carried over among multipleaccesses and/or access systems; some, all or none of which use differentaccess technologies. The communications system 400 of FIG. 4 is similarto the communications system 300 of FIGS. 3A-3C.

The Gx interface between the PCRF 320 and PCEF 370 is adapted to supportBWM-based policies. For network-initiated BWM, rules may include IP flowidentification requirements and flow mobility and/or aggregationpolicies (e.g., as defined below).

The PCEF 370 may be adapted to support interaction with a BandwidthManagement Function (BWMF) 402. The adapted PCEF 370 may use informationfrom the BWMF 402 to dynamically establish, modify, or release bearersof the accesses 304 ₁₋₃ (“multi-RAT bearers”) being used by the WTRU 302based on the policy rules provided by the PCRF 320.

The BWMF 402 may include inputs that may enable the PCEF 370 to enforcethe BWM policies among any of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃. The BWMF 402 mayperform packet-based measurements from any of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃routes (e.g., by monitoring the GTP traffic). The BWMF 402 may alsoreceive input from the NCMF 324. The BWMF 324 may provide the inputtedperformance metrics, performance information and/or network conditionreports to the PCEF 370, enabling it to modify allowed QoS associatedwith each RAT based on the BWM policies.

The NCMF 324 shown in FIGS. 3A-3C and 4 may be a multi-RAT functionalentity in that it stores and processes information regarding both theFemto/Macro-Cellular networks as well as Wi-Fi network conditions. FIG.5 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a distributed NMCF 500.As shown, the distributed NMCF 500 may include separate functions forthe cellular and Wi-Fi networks, for example, C-NMCF 502 and W-NMCF 504respectively. Each of the C-NMCF 502 and W-NMCF 504 may communicate withthe PGW 366 using interfaces similar to those between the NCMF 324 andPGW 366 of FIGS. 3A-3C and 4.

Alternatively, the C-NMCF 502 and W-NMCF 504 may communicate using theinterface used for direct communication between NCMF 324 and the PCRF320. Direct communication may be replaced by communication via the SPR318 as an intermediary. The NCMF 324 may support an Ud interface to SPR318, which in turn may communicate with the PCRF 320 via a Sp interface.Such indirect communication may be used where a single Multi-RAT NCMF isreplaced by multiple single-RAT NMCFs, namely, C-NMCF 502 and W-NCMF504.

The ANDSF 322 may store information regarding various Wi-Fi APs (“WAPs”)and geo-locates them at a cell-ID level. Here, a number of enhancementsare disclosed that may make the information in the ANDSF databasedynamic to keep track of changes in the network environment as well asto make it capable of handling both Wi-Fi and Femto networkenvironments.

The ANDSF 322 may be made more dynamic by obtaining inputs from F-NCMF506 and W-NCMF 504, which may report the turning on and/or off ofFemto-APs (FAPs) and Wi-Fi APs (WAPs) of the trusted non-3GPP access 304₂ and the untrusted non-3GPP access 304 ₃, respectively.

In addition to on/off status, the FAP information may also includeadditional parameters, such as those indicating the access mode (e.g.hybrid vs. Open), etc. To accommodate such additional fields ofinformation, the format of the data stored in the ANDSF 322 may besuitably configured. The ANDSF 322 may obtain these inputs using directinterfaces or via the SPR-Front End (“SPR-FE”) 508 (e.g., as illustratedin FIG. 5).

The various NMCFs 502-506 and/or the ANDSF 322 may report any of theperformance metrics, performance information and network conditionreports to the PCRF 320 via the SPR-FE 508 using, for example, the Udinterface. The ANDSF 322 may also support the Sp interface, which mayallow it to directly query SPR-FE 506 and/or obtain any of theperformance metrics, performance information and network conditionreports from the various NMCFs 502-506. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, eachof the NMCFs 502-506 may support a Sp interface, as well, allowing theNMCFs 502-506 to query and receive information back from the SPR-FE 508.

In various embodiments, information for storage in an ANDSF client ofthe WTRU 302 may be supplied to the WTRU 302 by the network as follows.The ANDSF 322 may trigger a network-initiated PDP context activation,followed by transfer of updated information to the WTRU 302. Tofacilitate this, an interface between ANDSF 322 and SGW 365 may beestablished. The ANDSF 322 may also communicate the trigger informationvia the PCRF 320, using interfaces illustrated in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a 3GPP EPC-based communicationssystem 600 with enhancements for BWM policies in a local area/hotspotserved by a CGW 601. The CGW 601 may have multiple accesses and/oraccess systems; some, all or none of which use different accesstechnologies among multiple accesses and/or access systems. The CGW 601may provide (e.g. QoS, gating, etc.) control policy enforcementperformed for access 603, 605 of the CGW 601.

The CGW 601 may include a local PCRF 607, a local ANDSF Server 609, aremote PCRF 620 of a CN, a local ANDSF Client Proxy 611, a local PCEF613, a local NCMF 615, and a local AF (not shown). The local PCRF 607may maintain the policy and charging rules to be followed by the CGW601. This may include local BWM policies related to user priorities,service priorities, etc. The local PCRF 607 may also interface with theremote PCRF 620 via, for example, an extended S9 (eS9) interface. WhenBWM related services are to be initiated in the CGW 601, the local PCRF607 may consult the remote PCRF 620 and update the rules. Such updatemay be mandated by a higher authority.

The local ANDSF Server 609 may provide local policies to authorizedWTRUs, such as the WTRU 602. The local ANDSF Client Proxy 611 may act onbehalf of authorized WTRUs to exchange WTRU-specific information withexternal ANDSF servers 622 accessible by the WTRUs.

The CGW 601 may include a capability to intercept WTRU-specific corenetwork control plane signaling (e.g., NAS, RANAP, S1, etc.). It mayalso be able to intercept WTRU-specific user plane data and routepackets over multiple RATs per a WTRU BWM policy. These capabilities mayallow the CGW 601 to act as the local PCEF 613 to enforce multi-RAT BWMpolicies provided by the local PCRF 607.

By being a local network element in an immediate vicinity of theserviced terminals, an MNO-managed CGW, such as the CGW 601, may be in aposition to provide a broader set of measurements than possible from aremote RNC/eNB in a macro cell. For example, the CGW 601 may offermulti-technology and technology-independent metrics based on itssupported capabilities. Such function may be realized via the local NCMF615. For instance, radio frequency (RF) measurements from IEEE 802.11(e.g., Wi-Fi) and IEEE 802.15-based (e.g., Bluetooth) devices may beaggregated, as may measurements from a dedicated RF sensing board. Thisinformation may be used along with the local policies to influence theusage of various RATs within the CGW 601. The same and/or similarinformation may be used by MNOs to optimize utilization of networkresources, including licensed and unlicensed spectrum, while maintaininga required QoS.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating an example 3GPP EPC-basedcommunications system 700 with enhancements for BWM policies in a localarea/hotspot served by a CGW 701. The CGW 701 may have multiple accessesand/or access systems; some, all or none of which use different accesstechnologies among multiple accesses and/or access systems. Thecommunications system 700 of FIG. 7 is similar to the communicationssystem 600 of FIG. 6. The communications system 700 of FIG. 7 may differfrom the communications system 600 of FIG. 6 in that the communicationssystem 700 may include an edge node 703 at the edge of the CN, and theedge node 703 includes PCRF relay 705 for interacting with the localPCEF 707.

Provided below are examples of a three sets of BWM policies that may beprovided to various network components in an evolved multi-RAT mobilenetwork, such as in any of the communications systems 100, 200, 300,400, 600 and 700. The first set of policies may include policiesprovided to WTRUs. These policies may provide a network with controlover how a WTRU makes decisions that it is “free to make.” The policiesprovided to WTRUs may also provide a network operator with control overbehavior of the WTRUs at all times. These policies provided to WTRUs maybe provided to the WTRUs via an ANDSF.

The second set of policies may include policies residing in thenetwork's own PCRF and/or PCEF (e.g., policies describing how a networkcontrols its own operation). And the third set of policies may includepolicies residing in the CGWs. These policies, which may reside in thelocal PCRF and/or local PCEF at the CGW (e.g. a FAP), may allow themobile network to indicate preference over an approach that the CGWtakes to managing local spectrum.

One aspect of WTRU-decision making is whether the WTRU 302 makesdecisions per connection or whether a finer (per flow) granularity issupported. For per-connection decisions, the policy may contain one ormore elements, including, for example, any of a policy owner; policyaccess characteristics; policy activation time (e.g., immediate, for newsessions only, etc.); policy persistence (e.g., overwrite default;revert to default after timeout expiry, etc.); user permissions, policygranularity (e.g., per connection or flow based); flow identificationprocess and policy properties.

The policy owner may be, for example, a network issuing the policy. Thepolicy owner may be used as a criterion for looking up a policy whenconnected to this network. The policy access characteristics may specifyunder which condition(s) the policy is to be used when connecting to thepolicy owner. Examples of the policy access characteristics may include(i) “always”, (ii) “when macro-BS connection is the only one available”,and (iii) “when a trusted Wi-Fi AP is available”, (iv) etc.

The flow identification process may be used if flow-based policygranularity is used. The flow identification process may specify how“hard” the WTRU 302 should try to identify the flow. Example settings ofthe flow identification process may include packet inspection level (thepacket inspection level may be commonly understood by a WTRU 302 and thenetwork); use of well-known port mappings (e.g., TCP port 80 is alwaysHTTP); use of deep packet inspection (if available) and identificationof application sub-flows.

The policy properties may include properties to be used for perconnection granularity. The policy properties may also be used as a“default” policy for flow-based granularity. Examples of properties ofthe policy properties may include (i) which initial connection to use(e.g., Cellular, Wi-Fi, peer-to-peer or Bluetooth), and (ii) whichaccess procedure to configure (e.g., network-controlled mobility, mobileIP, BW aggregation, static TCP/IP, etc.).

If flow-based policies are used, for each flow, a sub-policy may beprovided that may include a flow description and/or policy properties. Aflow description may include a flow name (e.g., HTTP, video, voice,VoIP, etc.) and/or a flow identifier. The flow identifier may include adestination port used (e.g., TCP Port 80 for HTTP) or a DPI signature;for example The policy properties may be the same as for a masterpolicy, which may include, for example, which initial connection to use(e.g., Cellular, Wi-Fi, peer-to-peer or Bluetooth) and which accessprocedure to configure (e.g., network-controlled mobility, mobile IP, BWaggregation, static TCP/IP, etc.).

If flow-based policies are used, the policy framework may allow for theWTRU 32 to not be able to identify all (or many) flows. A default policymay be provided. The default policy may be explicit provided (e.g.,using a flow-specific policy with “default” in a flow description).Alternatively, the master policy may include policy properties that aretreated as default.

Policies in the network may be structured around the WTRU 302 or aroundflows. WTRU-centric policies may apply to all flows associated with aWTRU 302. Flow-based policies may apply to all flows or to a particulartype of flow associated with any WTRU 302. Examples of WTRU-centricpolicies and associated parameters that may be defined for controllingmulti-RAT BWM-enabled behavior in macro and CGW environments may includeany of a policy activation time (e.g., immediate, for new sessions only,etc.); policy persistence (e.g., overwrite default, revert to defaultafter timer expiry, etc.); user permissions; BWM flow mobilitythresholds; BWM flow aggregation thresholds; and RCF retransmissionthresholds.

The BWM flow mobility policies may include any of a WTRU identity (e.g.,IMSI); WTRU priority for uplink and downlink (e.g., high, low, or thelike); service classification and/or identification requirements (e.g.,video based on specified IP address, flash videos based on DPI, etc.);preferred access per service for uplink and downlink (e.g., cellular,Wi-Fi, etc.); minimum QoS per IP flow (e.g., bit rate, packet latency,packet loss, etc.); and maximum QoS per IP flow (e.g., bit rate, packetlatency, packet loss, etc.).

The BWM flow aggregation policies may include any of a WTRU identify(e.g., IMSI); WTRU priority (e.g., high, low, or the like); serviceclassification and/or identification requirements (e.g., video based onspecified IP address, flash videos based on DPI, etc.); minimum QoS perservice (e.g., bit rate, packet latency, packet loss, etc.); and maximumQoS per service (e.g., bit rate, packet latency, packet loss, etc.).Execution of these policies may assume that any BWM-enabled capabilitieshave been communicated between the WTRU 302 and the macro/CGW systems,either explicitly or implicitly.

The CGW may service users in a residence or enterprise. As such, theusers may be localized in the vicinity of the CGW, and location-basedpolicies may be employed based on the expected behavior of these users.

Example ANDSF and PCRF Discovery

Referring now to FIG. 8, a flow diagram illustrating an example process800 for ANDSF discovery. The process 800 is described with reference tothe communications system 300 of FIGS. 3A-3C, for simplicity ofexposition. The process 800 may be carried out in other communicationssystems, as well.

The PCRF 320 may be configured with fully qualified domain names(“FQDNs”) and/or IP addresses of one or more ANDSFs, as shown at 802.When a WTRU 302 establishes a bearer through the EPC network 303, thePGW 366 (or more particularly, the PCEF 370) may provide the PCRF 320with information related to the subscriber connection (“subscriberconnection information”), as shown at 804. The subscriber connectioninformation may include for example, a subscriber ID, UE IP address,subscriber location, PDN ID, PLMN ID; etc. Based on the subscriberconnection information, the PCRF 320 may be able to narrow a search forthe ANDSF(s) serving the WTRU 302 (subscriber), as shown at 806. Thesearch may be narrowed, e.g., based on subscriber location, PLMN ID,etc. Thereafter, the PCRF 320 may query the narrowed set of configuredANDSFs for the ANDSF(s) serving the WTRU 302 (subscriber), as shown at808. Alternatively, the PCRF may query each the configured ANDSFs forthe ANDSF(s) serving the WTRU 302 (subscriber) to determine which servethe WTRU 302 (subscriber).

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process 900 for ANDSFdiscovery. The process 900 is described with reference to thecommunications system 300 of FIGS. 3A-3C, for simplicity of exposition.The process 900 may be carried out in other communications systems, aswell. The process 900 of FIG. 9 is similar to the process 800 of FIG. 8,except as described herein.

The SPR may be configured with the FQDNs or IP addresses of the ANDSFsprovisioned for the WTRU 302 (subscriber), as shown at 902. When a UEestablishes a bearer through the EPC, the PCRF may retrievesubscriber-specific ANDSF information from the SPR, as shown at 904.Based on this subscriber-specific ANDSF information, the PCRF may narrowthe search for applicable ANDSF(s) serving the subscriber, as shown at906. Thereafter, the PCRF 320 may query the narrowed set of configuredANDSFs for the ANDSF(s) serving the WTRU 302 (subscriber), as shown at908. Alternatively, the PCRF may query the SPR to determine ANDSF(s)that serve the WTRU 302 (subscriber)

Example Information Provided by ANDSF to PCRF

The information exchanged between the ANDSF 322 and the PCRF 320 may bethe ANDSF MO. Since the ANDSF MO contains policy information and/orpolicy-related information (collectively “policy information”) regardingnon-3GPP Network Selection, ISMP and ISRP, the PCRF may obtain (e.g.,using a ‘get’ method) the policy information of interest. Assuming theinterface between the PCRF 302 and ANDSF 322 uses a Diameter basedprotocol, then Diameter messages may be defined, and these messages mayencapsulate the ANDSF MO (in whole or in part, as needed). Alternately,assuming the interface between the PCRF 302 and ANDSF 322 is similar toS14, e.g., S14a, then existing MO-synchronization messages (such as Get,Alert, etc) may be used

The ANDSF information may include other information in addition toinformation stored in the ANDSF MO in accordance with 3GPP TS 24.312,v11.0.0 (“conventional ANDSF MO”), this other information may be and/orinclude information derived, at least in part, from the conventionalANDSF MO. For example, the ANDSF server may retrieve WTRU-networkinformation (from both conventional ANDSF MO information and informationset forth above and below) from individual WTRUs based on capabilitiesof each of the WTRUs. These capabilities may include perceivedcongestion via specific cells, access points, or PDNs; applicationdetection; etc.). To enable consistent behavior and interoperability,such information may be specified with a level of confidence expectedfrom such reports. An “always-on” IP connection over 3GPP access may beused to convey this information between WTRUs and the ANDSF 322.

The ANDSF 322 may then use this individual WTRU-network information, “asis” or aggregated with other WTRU-network information, including reportsfrom multiple WTRUs. The ANDSF 322 may acquire this other WTRU-networkinformation, which may include, for example, near-real-time subscriberinformation, via an interface with the HSS/SPR 318. The ANDSF 322 maythen provide network status information to the PCRF 320 related to oneor more individual WTRUs; one or more individual cells and/or accesspoints (e.g. BSSIDs/AP MAC addresses); one or more individual accessnetworks (as in, for example the case of a Wi-Fi Hotspot where multipleaccess points use the same SSID); and Individual PDNs.

In addition to the conventional ANDSF MO information, the ANDSF 322 mayprovide any of the following other WTRU-network information to the PCRF320, with a specified level of confidence: a timestamp; report type(initial, modification, etc.); subscriber ID (e.g., IMSI, NAI); IPv4address and/or IPv6 network prefix assigned to the WTRU; subscriberlocation; PDN ID(s) (e.g., as indicated by APNs); PLMN ID; IP flowrouting information (if, for example, WTRU-initiated IP flow mobility isused); detected IP flow description, e.g. 5-tuple (for WTRUs withtraffic detection capability, for instance); WTRU-specific cell/AP airinterface pre-congestion/congestion information for specified cells/APs(for WTRUs with congestion detection capability, for instance);WTRU-specific cell/AP backhaul pre-congestion/congestion information forspecified cells/APs (for WTRUs with congestion detection capability, forinstance); WTRU-specific PDN pre-congestion/congestion information forspecified PDN (for WTRUs with congestion detection capability, forinstance); detected applications, flows (for WTRUs with trafficdetection capability, for example)

Example Information Provided by PCRF to ANDSF

As noted above, the PCRF 320 may accept input for PCC decision making.This input may emanate from any of the PCEF 370, BBERF 374, TDF 375, SPR318 and AF 370, from the reporting air interface status from theRAN/eNodeB/WLAN AP/etc, as well as the its own information. The PCRF 320may also accept input from the NMCF 345 (of distributed NMCF 500)

Based on this information, the PCRF 320 may inform the ANDSF 322 aboutthe access network(s) currently used for a particular WTRU connection,potentially triggering a “get” from the WTRU 302, e.g., to obtainupdated location or IFOM information. The ANDSF 322 may then provide theWTRU 302 with a policy update, if required. The PCRF 320 may also informthe ANDSF 322 when an IP flow has been moved successfully.

Example Mechanisms for Providing ANDSF Information to PCRF

The PCRF 320 may query the ANDSF 322 for specific information on demand.Alternatively, the ANDSF 322 may report events to the PCRF 320unconditionally and/or based on PCRF subscription for event reports. Forinstance, the ANDSF 322 may be pre-configured to report some events tothe PCRF 320 based on a specified trigger or at a periodic rate.Alternatively, the PCRF 320 may subscribe to reporting of specificevents from the ANDSF 322 based on a specified trigger or at a periodicrate.

An event report is a notification of an event which occurs thatcorresponds with an event trigger. The event report may includeinformation in addition to the notification. An event trigger is a rulespecifying the event reporting behavior of the ANDSF 322. The ANDSF 622may perform event trigger detection. For example, each time the AND SF322 updates a particular policy of a WTRU 302, the ANDSF 322 may checkevent report filters to determine if such information should also bereported to the PCRF 320.

Examples of events that may trigger generation of a report to the PCRF302 may include any of a WTRU policy update from the ANDSF 322 (e.g.,based on UE request for policy update based on expiration of policyvalidity (location-based, time-based, etc.)), a PLMN change, a QoSchange; an IFOM routing change; an access network change; an access linkup/down; a UE IP address change; a location update; an applicationdetection; etc.

Example Mechanisms for Providing PCRF Information to ANDSF

The PCRF 320 may provide information to the ANDSF 322 at any time. Eventtriggers may be set up in the ANDSF 322 that may cause the ANDSF 322 toretrieve specific information from the PCRF 320 whenever the specifiedevent is triggered. Similar to the event reporting mechanism describedabove with respect to ANDSF-to-PCRF event reporting, the ANDSF 322 maysubscribe to trigger-based event reports from the PCRF 320. The reportsmay be based on, for example, any of a detection of congestion in thenetwork; detection of specific application types; detection ofcell-based congestion; etc.

Example Use of ANDSF Information by PCRF

In various embodiments, the PCRF 320 may use the ANDSF information inaddition to the inputs described in 3GPP TS 23.203, v11.2.0 for PCCdecision-making and policy rule generation. The PCRF 320 may accept suchadditional input from, for example, any of the PCEF 370, the BBERF 374(if present), the TDF 376 (if present), the HSS/SPR 318 and the AF 372(if involved). The PCRF 320 may use its own pre-defined information asinput, as well. The PCRF 320 may also accept input from the NMCF 324,(or distributed NMCF 500)

When using network-based mobility (“NBM”) protocols such as PMIPv6 orGTP, the PCRF 320 may use the ANDSF information to enhance eitherWTRU-initiated or network-initiated IFOM. For WTRU-initiated IFOM withNBM, for example, the PCRF 32 may use the ANDSF information tore-negotiate the WTRU-initiated IFOM. This way, the PCRF 320 may (e.g.,in accordance with 3GPP TS 23.861 v1.3.0) determine through which accessto route the SDF, by, for example, providing the PCC rules, includingthe access network information, to the PCEF 320. For network-initiatedIP flow mobility, the ANDSF information may be used to update the PCRF320 to include expanded IFOM rules.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process 1000 forperforming network-initiated IFOM using ANDSF information. The process1000 is described with reference to the communications system 300 ofFIGS. 3A-3C. The process 1000 may be carried out in other communicationssystems, as well.

At 1002, the WTRU 302 and a first access, such as, the 3GPP access 304 ₁may exchange flow “A” via a first interface of the WTRU 302. At 1004,the WTRU 302 and a second access, such as, trusted-non-3GPP access 304₂, may exchange flow “B” via a second interface of the WTRU 302. At1006, the WTRU 302 may detect QoS of flow “A” QoS has degraded below anacceptable limit, and passes this performance metric (“QoS-degradationmetric”) to the ANDSF client of the WTRU 302. At 1008, the ANDSF clientmay alert the ANDSF server 322 and may pass the QoS-degradation metricto the ANDSF server 322. At 1010, the ANDSF server 322 may convey theQoS-degradation metric to PCRF 320.

At 1012, the PCRF 320 may use the QoS-degradation metric to update thepolicy for the WTRU 302. At 1014, the PCRF 320 may send updated routingrules to the PCEF 370 for the flows “A” and “B”, and to the ANDSF 322 toupdate the ISRP. At 1016, the PCEF 370 may initiate a network-controlledflow mobility to switch flow “A” to the trusted-non-3GPP access 304 ₂and to the second interface of the WTRU 302, and the ANDSF 322 mayupdate the ISRP (which may possibly prevent a contention issue). At1018, the flow mobility procedure is determined successful. At 1020, theflow “A” is sent via the trusted-non-3GPP access 304 ₂, and the secondinterface of the WTRU. At 1022, the flow “B” continues unchanged.

Example Use of PCRF Information by ANDSF

The PCRF 320 may provide information to the ANDSF 322, which may alsopotentially get propagated to the WTRU 302. The PCRF 320 may be able to,for example, adjust ANDSF policies (e.g., ISMP, ISRP, etc.). The MNO maydesignate the ANDSF polices and parameters that are allowed to bemodified by the PCRF 320.

In one embodiment, the ANDSF policies may be mechanism for providing“coarse” control of the overall system policies. For example, at somepoint, the WTRU 302 acts upon the ANDSF policies. Based on a particulartrigger, for instance, the WTRU 302 may initiate a connection to apreferred Wi-Fi hotspot either for idle reselection, active handover, oractive multi-RAT IP flow mobility. The network may ensure that theprocedure is permissible based on (i) the latest operator policies(which might not necessarily be reflected in the WTRU 320 (e.g., UE-MOor other structure)), (ii) current subscriber profile, (iii) currentnetwork resources, (iv) etc.

The PCC policies provided by the PCRF 320 may operate as “fine” controlof the overall system policies. The PCRF 320 may, for example, modifythe allowed parameters in the ANDSF 322 to change the coarse ANDSFpolicies and re-align WTRU behavior with the latest network conditions(e.g., based on, for example, the network information obtained via theANDSF 322 and/or the NMCF 324).

For MNO-implemented ANDSF-based WTRU-initiated IP flow mobility, theWTRU 302 may initiate movement of an IP flow from 3GPP access 304 ₁ tothe untrusted-non-3GPP (Wi-Fi) access 304 ₃, for example. If, however,dynamic PCC is implemented in the network and the subscribed QoS cannotbe ensured on the untrusted-non-3GPP (Wi-Fi) access 304 ₃, the PCRF 320may update the ANDSF 322 and update an associated policy for thatservice. The update may include, for example, re-prioritizing Wi-FiSSIDs; assigning higher priority to the 3GPP access 304 ₁; blockinguntrusted-non-3GPP (Wi-Fi) access 304 ₃ completely; etc. In this way,conflict resolution for a mismatch between the ANDSF policies and PCRFpolicies may be performed.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process 1100 forperforming network-initiated IFOM using ANDSF information. The process1100 is described with reference to the communications system 300 ofFIGS. 3A-3C. The process 1100 may be carried out in other communicationssystems, as well.

At 1102, the WTRU 302 and a first access, such as, the 3GPP access 304 ₁may exchange flow “A” via a first interface of the WTRU 302. At 1104,the WTRU 302 and a second access, such as, trusted-non-3GPP access 304₂, may exchange flow “B” via a second interface of the WTRU 302. At1106, the PCEF 320 may detect QoS of flow “A” QoS has degraded below anacceptable limit. At 1108, the PCEF 320 reports the associatedQoS-degradation metric to the PCRF 320. At 1110, the PCRF 320 uses theQoS-degradation metric to update the ANDSF policies.

At 1112, the PCRF conveys updated ANDSF policy information to ANDSFserver 322. At 1114, the ANDSF server 322 sends updated routing rulesfor flow A to the ANDSF client of the WTRU 302. At 1116, the WTRU 302may initiates flow mobility to switch of flow “A” to theuntrusted-non-3GPP (Wi-Fi) access 304 ₃ and the second interface of theWTRU 302, and the flow mobility procedure is determined to besuccessful. At 1118, the WTRU 302 and the untrusted-non-3GPP (Wi-Fi)access 304 ₃ may exchange flow “A” via the second interface of the WTRU302. At 1120, the flow “B” continues unchanged.

As an alternative, the PCEF 370 (operating as a QoS enforcer) detectsthe QoS degradation on a particular flow and reports the associatedQoS-degradation metric to the PCRF 320. Using this information, the PCRF320 may determine that there is congestion in the network. The PCRF 370may again modify the allowed parameters in the ANDSF 322. For example,the PCRF 370 may modify the allowed parameters in the ANDSF 322 to, forexample, prioritize offload to the untrusted-non-3GPP (Wi-Fi) access 304₃.

Example of Information Exchanged between ANDSF and PCRF

Congestion Information

Various embodiments herein provide mechanisms for congestion managementin the user plane to enable a more efficient use of network resources.In various embodiments, the ANDSF 322 may obtain network informationfrom one or more WTRUs and from the NMCF 324, and provide it “as is” oraggregated to the PCRF 320 for decision making and policy rulegeneration. In various embodiments, the PCRF 320 may use theWTRU-network information in its decision making and/or NBM decisions,for example.

Application Flow Identification Information

As noted above, the ANDSF 322 is capable of identifying flows using anIP filter. This IP filter may be the IP header 5-tuple (and/oradditional optional 3GPP-specific info) provided by the network.Proposed 3GPP R11 extensions (DIDA Work Item) may extend this capabilityto allow a WTRU to identify such flow according to specific criteria.The WTRU 302 may determine the 5-tuple based on higher-level descriptors(“video flows,” “flows with average rate above given threshold,” etc.),as an endpoint. The derived flow identities may then be stored in theANDSF MO at the WTRU 302, and then provided to ANDSF 322 as ameasurement and/or report of an event (e.g., “detected a flow accordingto the defined criteria”). The ANDSF 322 may then provide the flowidentifies to the PCRF 320. The PCRF 320 may use the flow identifiesfrom the ANDSF 322, instead of using TDF to derive the same. As analternative, the HA 307 may derive the flow identifies, and pass them tothe PCEF 370. The PCEF 370 may then pass them to the PCRF 320.

Example Operations

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process 1200 formanaging and/or enforcing polices for IP traffic management amongmultiple accesses of a network. The process 1200 is described withreference to the communications system 300 of FIGS. 3A-3C, forsimplicity of exposition. The process 1200 may be carried out in othercommunications systems, as well.

The WTRU 302 may establish one or more sessions to the EPC network 303via any of the 3GPP access 304 ₁ trusted-non-3GPP (Femto) access 304 ₂and untrusted-non-3GPP (Wi-Fi) access 304 ₃, as shown at 1202 The PCRF320 may perform discovery to determine whether there are any ANDSFsassociated with the WTRU 302 using, for example, the ANDSF discoveryprocess noted above, as shown at 1204. After discovering one or moreassociated ANDSFs, the PCRF 320 may subscribe to specific eventnotifications from such ANDSFs, including, for example, the ANDSF 322,as shown at 1206.

At some point, the WTRU 302 may detect an event that should be reportedto the ANDSF 322, e.g., based on criteria previously specified to theWTRU 302 by the ANDSF 322, as shown at 1208. In turn, the WTRU 302 mayreport this event to the ANDSF 322, as shown at 1208. Based on the WTRUreport and/or other events known to the ANDSF 322, the ANDSF 322 maygenerate a report to the PCRF 320, as shown at 1210. As shown at 1212,the PCRF 320 may then process the received ANDSF information along withother available information, and take an action to initiate managementIP traffic among the accesses 304 ₁₋₃. The action may be to initiate anyof the following: a new bearer establishment, modification, or deletionover the same or different access system; blocking of an SDF by updatingthe Gating Control in the PCC rule; updating of event reporting and/ortriggers to the ANDSF 322, PCEF 370, and/or BBERF 374; updating of QoSrules sent to the ANDSF 322, PCEF 370, and/or BBERF 374; and redirection(e.g., steering) of packets, belonging to an application defined by theANDSF-provided application identifier, to the specified redirectionaddress.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process 1300 formanaging and/or enforcing polices for IP traffic management amongmultiple accesses of a network. For simplicity of exposition, theprocess 1300 is described with reference to the communications systems300, 400 of FIGS. 3A-3C and 4, respectively. The process 1300 may becarried out in other communications systems, as well.

At 1302, the NMCF 324 may obtain performance metrics associated with anyof the accesses 304 ₁₋₃. The performance metrics may include any ofusage, congestion, connectivity, loading and latency. The performancemetrics may be provided via respective interfaces of the accesses 304₁₋₃, and may be collected, derived, generated, garnered or otherwiseobtained from network condition reports and/or other measurementsprovided from one or more of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃. In variousembodiments, the NMCF 324 may obtain performance information associatedwith one or more of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃; and in turn, generate theperformance metrics from the obtained performance information. Invarious embodiments, the performance metrics may be retransmissionmetrics associated with at least one access of the plurality of accesses304 ₁₋₃. The performance metrics may include other metrics, as well.

At 1304, any of the ANDSF 322 and PCRF 320 may adapt one or more rulesof one or more policies for managing IP traffic associated with the WTRU302 (“WTRU-IP traffic”) among the plurality of accesses 304 ₁₋₃ based,at least in part, on the performance metrics and a policy for managingbandwidth among the accesses 304 ₁₋₃. For example, the PCRF 320 mayadapt rules of QoS policy control of the WTRU IP traffic. Alternatively,the PCRF 320 may adapt rules of gating policy control of the WTRU IPtraffic. As another alternative, the PCRF 320 may adapt rules of any ofQoS and gating policy control of IP traffic not associated with the WTRU302 (“non-WTRU-IP traffic”)

The ANDSF 322 may, for example, adapt rules of policies for managingconnections to the any of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃. The ANDSF 322 may,alternatively, adapt rules of policies for managing any of discovery andselection of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃ for the WTRU-IP traffic and/or thenon-WTRU-IP traffic. Alternatively, the ANDSF may adapt rules of theISMP and/or the ISRP for any of the WTRU-IP traffic and non-WTRU-IPtraffic.

As another alternative, the ANDSF 322 may adapt rules of one or morepolicies for causing dynamic adaptation of bearers for the WTRU-IPtraffic and/or the non-WTRU-IP traffic. Adaptation of the bearers mayinclude any of establishment, modification and release of such bearers.

Once the ANDSF 322 and/or PCRF 320 adapt their respective rules, one ormore of the adapted rules may be provided to the WTRU 302. The adaptedrules provided to the WTRU 302 from the ANDSF 322 may be carried outthrough synchronization of the NETWORK MO and the UE MO, for example. Insome instances, the adapted rules provided to the WTRU 302 from theANDSF 322 may cause the WTRU 302 to adapt one or more locally-maintainedrules of one or more policies for the WTRU-IP traffic among theplurality of accesses.

At 506, the PCEF 370 and/or the WTRU 302 may manage the WTRU-IP trafficamong the accesses 304 ₁₋₃ responsive to the adapted rules for managingIP traffic. The PCEF 370 may, for example, apply one of more of theadapted rules to the WTRU-IP traffic. The adapted rules may include oneor more rules for QoS and/or gating policy control of the IP traffic,including, for example, managing one or more data flow of WTRU-IPtraffic among the plurality of accesses and/or aggregating bandwidthfrom at least two of the accesses 304 ₁₋₃ for the WTRU-IP traffic and/orthe non-WTRU-IP traffic.

In some instances, the reception of the adapted rules at the WTRU 302from the ANDSF 322 may cause the WTRU 302 to not only adapt one or morelocally-maintained rules of one or more policies for managing theWTRU-IP traffic among the plurality of accesses, but also cause the WTRU302 to apply one or more of the locally-maintained rules to the WTRU-IPtraffic.

In various embodiments, the PCEF 370 (via the HA 307) and/or the WTRU302 may re-route at least one retransmitted packet from one of accesses304 ₁₋₃ to another on a condition that the performance metric relatingto packet retransmissions satisfies a threshold.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process 1400 forenabling interaction among access network discovery and selectionfunction (“ANDSF”) and policy control and charging (“PCC”) entities.Such interaction may be useful for multi-access flow management, and/orbandwidth aggregation among the multiple accesses. For simplicity ofexposition, the process 1400 is described with reference to thecommunications systems 300, 400 of FIGS. 3A-3C and 4, respectively. Theprocess 1400 may be carried out in other communications systems, aswell.

At 1402, a connection may be established between the PCRF 320 and theANDSF 322. At 1402, information about the network (“networkinformation”) may be obtained at the PCRF 320, via the connectionbetween the ANDSF 322 and the PCRF 320. At 1406, policy-configurationinformation for configuring a policy for facilitating flow managementamong the multiple accesses 304 ₁₋₃ may be generated based, at least inpart, on the network information obtained at the PCRF 320. At 1408; thepolicy-configuration information sending to any of the ANDSF 322, theWTRU 302, and the PCEF 370.

Although not shown, in various embodiments, information defining thepolicy (“policy definition information”) may be obtained, at the PCRF320, via the connection between the ANDSF 322 and PCRF 320. In variousembodiments, the policy-configuration information may be generatedbased, at least in part, on the network information and the obtained bythe PCRF 320 and the policy-definition information.

In various embodiments, the connection between the PCRF 320 and theANDSF 322 may be established in accordance with any of a Diameterprotocol, a Diameter application and a protocol based on the Diameterprotocol. In various embodiments, the connection between the PCRF 320and the ANDSF 322 may be established in accordance with a devicemanagement (“DM”) protocol. This DM protocol may include a DM protocolin accordance with an Open-Mobile Alliance (“OMA”) DM protocol.

In various embodiments, the obtained network information may include anyof static and dynamically updated network information garnered from thepolicy-definition information, access network discovery information,network status information, subscriber information andtraffic-identification information.

In various embodiments, the obtained network information may includenetwork information detected by one or more WTRUs. In variousembodiments, the WTRU-detected network information may be obtained bythe ANDSF 322 via respective connections between the ANDSF 322 and theWTRUs.

FIGS. 15-18 are flow diagrams illustrating example processes 1500-1800for enabling interaction among the ANDSF 322 and the PCC entities. Suchinteraction may be useful for multi-access flow management, and/orbandwidth aggregation among the multiple accesses. For simplicity ofexposition, the processes 1500-1800 are described with referenceembodiments disclosed under a heading entitled “Embodiments” (below).

The measurements and/or metrics identified below may be reported by theWTRU 302 and Trusted or untrusted accesses may be used to enhancepolicy-based Session Management, including any IP flow management, sucha MAPCON), IFOM, Operator Policies for IP Interface Selection (“OPIIS”).

In various embodiments, the measurements and/or metrics may be use toperform policy-based flow management across the multiple accesses 304₁₋₃. The measurements and/or metrics may be extracted from RAT drivers,application statistics, etc.

A mechanism to discover Extended Service Set (“ESS”) measurements-basedPCC is provided; along with a process to make the ANQP informationretrieved over Wi-Fi available to others technologies. Variousembodiments of network-controlled and WTRU-initiated flow mobility areprovided as well.

Measurements Based PCC Architecture Example

FIG. 19 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a communicationssystem 1900 in which one or more disclosed embodiments may beimplemented and/or carried out. The communications system 1900 may besuitable for implementing and/or carrying out any of BWM, BWA, flowmanagement, IFOM and the like to IP traffic that may be carried overamong multiple accesses and/or access systems; some, all or none ofwhich use different access technologies. The communications system 1900of FIG. 19 is similar to the communications system 300 of FIGS. 3A-3C,except as described herein.

As shown, the WTRU 302, SGSN 248, eNB 1902, trusted-non-3GPP access 304₂, PGW 366 and ePDG 326 may include respective information collectionfunctions (“ICF(s)”), and the WTRU 302, PCRF 320, ANDSF 322 and PCEF 370may include respective policy update functions (“PUF(s)”). Each of theWTRU ICF, SGSN ICF, GGSN-ICF, eNB ICF, trusted-non-3GPP access ICF,PDN-GW ICF and ePDG ICF may monitor radio and/or network conditionsavailable to such devices, and may obtain performance metrics associatedwith the available radio and/or network conditions.

As an example, the WTRU ICF may monitor radio and/or network conditionsat the WTRU 302, and collect, derive, generate or otherwise obtainperformance metrics, performance information and/or network conditionreports associated with such conditions (collectively “WTRU-ICFperformance metrics”). The WTRU ICF may report or otherwise provide theWTRU-ICF performance metrics to any of the WTRU PUF, PCRF PUF and ANDSFPUF. The WTRU ICF may, for example, report the WTRU-ICF performancemetrics to the ANDSF 322 over the S14 interface. Similarly, the WTRU ICFmay report the WTRU-ICF performance metrics to the PCRF 320 via anintermediate node, such as, ANDSF 322 or PDN GW 366 using appropriateinterfaces indicated in FIG. 19.

The ANDSF 322 may store the WTRU-ICF performance metrics in anappropriate location using a suitable data structure. The ANDSF PUF, inturn, may obtain the stored WTRU-ICF performance metrics from the ANDSFdata structure, and adapt (e.g., update) rules of policies using theANDSF MO for managing IP traffic among accesses 304 ₁₋₃ and 1904 ₁₋₂based, at least in part, on the obtained performance metrics and a BWMpolicy for managing bandwidth among accesses 304 ₁₋₃ and 1904 ₁₋₂.

The WTRU ICF may alternatively and/or additionally report the WTRU-ICFperformance metrics to the PCRF 320. The WTRU ICF may report theWTRU-ICF performance metrics via the PCEF 370, for instance. The PCRF320 may provide the WTRU-ICF performance metrics to the PCRF PUF. ThePCRF may use the obtained WTRU-ICF performance metrics to adapt one ormore of the rules of one or more of the policies for managing IP trafficamong the accesses 304 ₁₋₃ and 1904 ₁₋₂ based, at least in part, on theobtained performance metrics and a policy for managing bandwidth amongthe plurality of accesses 304 ₁₋₃ and 1904 ₁₋₂.

The PGW ICF may monitor radio and/or network conditions at the PGW 366,and collect, derive, generate or otherwise obtain any of performancemetrics, performance information and other measurements associated withthe monitored conditions (collectively “PGW-ICF performance metrics”).The PGW-ICF may report or otherwise provide the PGW-ICF performancemetrics to any of the WTRU PUF, PCRF PUF and ANDSF PUF. The PGW-ICF maybe a sub-task of PGW 366 or a separate entity with an interface to thePGW 366.

The ePDG ICF may collect information about the un-trusted non-3GPPaccess 304 ₃. The ePDG ICF, for example, may collect measurementsrelated to a secure tunnel (e.g., an IPsec tunnel) that terminates atthe ePDG 326. These measurements may include keep-alive messaging andother parameters used to maintain the tunnel. The ePDG ICF may determineperformance metrics (“ePDG-ICF performance metrics”), such as,end-to-end network latency, latency over the untrusted non-3GPP accessnetwork and tunnel throughput, from the collected measurements. The ePDGICF may report the ePDG-ICF performance metrics to any of the WTRU PUF,PCRF PUF and ANDSF PUF. The WTRU PUF may relay or otherwise provide theePDG-ICF performance metrics to the PCRF PUF and/or ANDSF PUF. The PCRFPUF and ANDSF PUF may use the ePDG-ICF performance metrics to adapt oneor more rules of one or more policies for managing IP traffic among theaccesses 304 ₁₋₃ and 1904 ₁₋₂ based, at least in part, on the obtainedperformance metrics and a policy for managing bandwidth among theaccesses 304 ₁₋₃ and 1904 ₁₋₂. Similarly, the WTRU PUF may relay orotherwise provide the PDN-GW-ICF or eNB-ICF ortrusted-non-3GPP-IP-access performance metrics to the PCRF PUF and/orANDSF PUF. More generally, any PUF may relay the performance metricsthat it receives to any other PUF using appropriate interfaces.

Like the ePDG ICF, the PCEFs 370 of the PGW 366, SGW 364, and GGSN 270may include ICF functionally for collection performance information foruse in determining the end-to-end network latency and tunnel throughput.

Although being shown as included within the WTRU 302, PCRF 320 and ANDSF322, the PUF(s) may be included on other points of the PCC architecture319.

The architecture of the communications system 1900 may include (1)H/E(e)NB (e.g., Femto APs) and (2) CGW (e.g., an integrated Femto andWi-Fi (IFW) AP). The H/E(e)NB and CGW may be in local premises, whichmay be residential, outdoor metro/campus/enterprise, indoor malls, etc.Such architecture is different from the interworked 3GPP and non-3GPP(Wi-Fi) access which interworking occurs in the PGW 366, which islocated in the EPC network 303. Each of the H(e)NB and CGW may includeboth an ICF and PUF, which is different from the interworked 3GPP andnon-3GPP access, where in the eNB 1902, trusted-non-3GPP access 1902,and ePDG 326 may include respective ICFs, but not respective PUFs. Invarious embodiments where edge-based′ APs (e.g., Femto only or IFW),some policies may also be resident in edge (or local premises), whichmay interact and/or coordinate with the policy entities of the EPCnetwork 303. If the Wi-Fi in the IFW-AP is not trusted and managed by amobile network operator (“MNO”), then the IFW-AP might not include anICF on the Wi-Fi of the IFW-AP.

In various embodiments, where the Wi-Fi AP is not trusted (e.g., notrust relationship exists between the MNO and the AP-provider, be theythe end user or some HotSpot provider), the WTRU ICF may obtainAP-related measurement information, and relay it to the EPC network 303,since the WTRU 302 is a trusted entity of the MNO.

PCC Related Information

Example Information Stored in PUFs

FIG. 20 is a chart illustrating a Table 1 listing (i) various policyrelated information stored as ANDSF MOs at any of the PUFs, namely atWTRU, PCRF or ANDSF entities and (ii) other information that may becollected by any of the ICFs and stored in the ANDSF MO in any of thePUFs. ANDSF MOs enhanced to store any such other information is referredto as EANDSF or eANDSF.

Example RAN Information Provided by ICFs

FIG. 21 is a chart illustrating a Table 2 listing information that maybe collected about the 3GPP RAN cell and be reported to any of the PUFsat WTRU 302, ANDSF 322 and PCRF 320.

Example 3G Specific Information

The 3G specific information that may be collected by any of the ICFs andstored at any of the PUFs may include one or more physical measurementsset forth in 3GPP TS 25.215. For WTRU reported measurements, the 3Gspecific information may include CPICH RSCP, PCCPCH RSCP, UTRA carrierRSSI, GSM carrier RSSI, CPICH Ec/No, Transport channel BLER, UEtransmitted power, UE GPS Information, E-UTRA RSRP, etc. For UTRANreported measurements, the 3G specific information may include receivedtotal wide band power, SIR, SIR error, Transmitted carrier power,Transmitted code power, Transport channel BER, physical channel BER,Round trip time, etc. . . .

Example Wi-Fi Specific Information

The Wi-Fi specific information that may be collected by any of the ICFsand stored at any of the PUFs may include one or more measurements setforth in IEEE STD 802.11-2007. Examples of such collectable Wi-Fispecific information may include RTS Success and Failure Count, ACKRate, FCS Error Count, etc . . .

Example Information Provided by Gateways (GWs) Entities

GWs entities may play an important role in the operation of the CN. Theymay serve as tunnel termination points, termination points for certainprotocols, NATs, etc. As such, the gateway may possess some informationuseful for policy decision making.

One type of information available at the GWs is information about aspecific WTRU, which may be (e.g., implicitly) obtained when a tunnelexists between the WTRU and the GWs. Such tunnel may be secured (e.g.,with IPsec) or, alternatively, unsecured. The tunnel between a GW andthe WTRU 302 provides a connection that encompasses all the non-CNintermediate steps involved in communication between CN and the WTRU302. Thus, end-to-end performance metrics associated with the tunnel maybe used as an indicator of how well non-CN controlled networks can beused to provide mobile network services to the WTRU 302. Thisinformation may be used to provide proper network management. An exampleof this is the tunnel between ePDG 326 and the WTRU 302, which tunnel isgenerally required for access over non-trusted non-3GPP accesses. Table3 of FIG. 22 provides information that may be collected from WTRU-to-GWtunnels (e.g., WTRU-to-ePDG tunnels).

Another type of tunnel is one that exists between the access networkgateway (e.g. HeNB or a trusted Wi-Fi AP/GW) and the corresponding GW inthe CN (SGW for HeNB, PDN GW for Trusted Wi-Fi AP/GW). Like the per UEtunnel, such tunnel is typically secured, and carries aggregated userdata from the access network GW and signaling, as well. A GTP is afrequently used as the transport protocol in such tunnels. Like theper-UE tunnel, the tunnel between an access network GW and the CN may bean indicator of a quality of connection between the two over what is,frequently, a third party network—or even the Internet (although, unlikethe per-UE tunnel, the air-interface performance metrics might not beincluded in these metrics). The air-interface performance metrics may beprovided by the network access gateway using measurements described inmore detail below. Table 4 of FIG. 23 provides information that becollected at the CN gateway from each access network tunnel.

Example Backhaul Information

The access to a specific technology may be based, at least in part, onthe state (e.g., load, IP protocol supported, etc.) of the backhaul.Under certain conditions, the radio interface can provide a highbandwidth with good quality of transmission, but the backhaul may be abottleneck. Obtaining this information in advance may result in the WTRU302 being prevented to connect to an AP that might not provide anexpected QoS. Table 5 of FIG. 24 provides backhaul information that maybe collected, reported and/or used for managing IP traffic.

Example ANQP Information

ANQP through Wi-Fi may provide the WTRU 302 with information related tothe services and capabilities of the local AP, such as venue nameinformation, emergency call number information, IP address typeavailability, etc . . .

While such information may be related to the Wi-Fi AP, the informationmay be relevant, for example, for neighboring networks. The WTRU 302 mayoperate as a relay for the ANQP information. The WTRU 302 may retrieveANQP information received over Wi-Fi, and store the ANQP informationlocally, e.g. into ANDSF MO, to be further retrieved by an entity of the3GPP network (e.g., the ANDSF Server) and/or other network.

Example Session & User Experience Information

The WTRU 302 may collect statistics of individual sessions, including PS& CS, as well as User Experience metrics and communicate such analyticsto the network.

Examples of session-based analytics may include average throughput,average latency, TCP retransmission counts, any time-outs etc. The UserExperience metrics may include dropped call and/or overall qualitymetric quantified into a set of numbers or descriptors (such as poor toexcellent), etc.

The communication of such analytics to the network may be direct, viasuitable NAS messages, or by updating the UE-MO, which may besubsequently synchronized with the ANDSF-Server.

Example Measurements-based PCC Functions

The policies may help the WTRU to adequately select an appropriate radioaccess based on the ISMP, and Discovery Information. For IP Flowmobility, PCC provides guidelines to ensure IP Flow Continuity andexpected QoE.

While the WTRU information may provide good information about eachindividual WTRU, global information related to all WTRUs served by thesame RAN may be used to provide a better policy decision. The WTRU 302and RAN information can be used to optimize PCC functions, for instance.

The measurements received by ANDSF 322 through s14 and the measurementsreceived at the PCRF 320 may be exchanged between both entities. Thedecisions about which measurements need to be available at the ANDSF 320and/or at the PCRF 320 may depend on the requirements of themeasurements-based PCC functions.

Example Multi-Network Load Balancing

In various embodiments, both of the ANDSF 322 and PCRF 320 may consideran overall system condition in determining appropriate policies orupdating existing policies for managing IP traffic associated with eachWTRU 302 among a set of the multiple accesses 304.

As shown in procedure 2500 of FIG. 25, an operator might make a decisionthat all video calls should be processed over a local/high-speed radioaccess, such as Wi-Fi. To facilitate this, the policies (ISMP, ISRP) maybe provisioned accordingly. If, however, all WTRUs in the same Wi-Ficell strictly follow this policy, the Wi-Fi cell may become quicklyconstrained and/or overloaded.

The PCC polices may be provisioned to consider the cell information andthe UE capabilities so that the operator may balance video calls betweenWi-Fi (e.g., for the devices that support only Wi-Fi) and cellular (forthe devices that supports only cellular or both Wi-Fi and cellular).

The ANDSF 322 may configure the WTRU with pre-defined operator policy tothe WTRU 302, which provide the ANDSF with its own capabilities. Afterthe WTRU 302 starts a video, and based on received ANDSF MO, the videomay start over Wi-Fi. Meanwhile, others WTRUs join the Wi-Fi network,based on their own policies received too from the ANDSF.

All WTRUs may run their applications, and the Wi-Fi AP may detect thatthe load reaches a threshold, which may be previously provisioned by theoperator or through policies. The Wi-Fi AP may report this event back tothe PCRF 320 over S2a interface, and provide the load information to thePCRF 320. PCRF 320 may share the information with the ANDSF 322, whichmay perform a load balancing function to determine which WTRU(s) andrelated application(s) to de-place. Based on the load balancingdecision, the ANDSF 320 may update the policies to the selected WTRU sothat it performs flow mobility on the detected application.

FIG. 25 implicitly assumes that the Wi-Fi AP is trusted. If not trusted,the ICF in the Wi-Fi AP may inform the WTRU 302 of the load conditions,and the WTRU may relay it to the ANDSF 322. Subsequent steps in theprocedure 2500 may be identical to the ones shown in FIG. 3.

Flow-based Traffic Management

The procedure 2600 of FIG. 26 may consider a Wi-Fi hot-spot owned by theoperator (and thus “trusted”). The hot-spot may be currently supportingabout 20 smart-phone devices browsing the Internet, using Facebook(which requires presence) and running other low-rate, high-signalingweb-based services. By offloading web-browsing flows to the Wi-Finetwork, the operator may significantly reduce the impact of theassociated signaling on its network, while delivering the required QoEto all 20 users.

At some point, one of the users initiates a large video streamingsession. If this session remains on Wi-Fi (which may be likely with atypical use of WTRU-centered approaches), it may significantly degradethe QoE for the remaining 19 users (as well as the web-browsing QoE ofthe “offending” user, should such user decide to continue browsing whilestreaming). Depending on their policy, the users may remain on the Wi-Finetwork (unhappily); or move to the cellular network bringing all theissues associated with support of signaling load with them. In variousembodiments, the video-stream flow may be moved to the cellular networkwhere a dedicated channel may be allocated for it. By doing so, thenetwork load introduced may be controllable (e.g., the operator may havefull control over what the WTRU 302 actually received).

Moving a high-rate streaming data traffic from an offload access network(e.g., Wi-Fi) to the operator network may be counter to the traditionalapproach taken to high-rate data traffic (which is traditionallyoffloaded) and is desirable in this case because, for example, a numberof very specific network conditions (presence of a large number oflow-rate high-signaling users in the same location, relativeavailability of the licensed spectrum).

According to the procedure 2600 carried out, a flow segregation decision(flow-mapping) is made at the WTRU 302. Thus, WTRU IFOM flow-mobilitymechanisms, such as those in 3GPP TS 23.261 as well as ANDSF may beutilized. Prior to making the decision, the PCRF 320 may have obtained anumber of network measurements, such as, for example, (i) network airinterface traffic characteristics from the Wi-Fi AP, indicating that thetraffic is highly spiky; (ii) network air interface report from HNBindicating general availability of system capacity and (iii) ameasurement from PGW 366 indicating that the Wi-Fi AP is supporting alarge number of low-rate users, but such users tend to deliver heavyintermittent signaling load. Based on these measurements, the PCRF 320was able to determine that in mapping flows to access networks, theWTRUs in this location may follow a non-standard policy. Such a policywas computed, provided to ANDSF 322, which distributed it to the WTRUs.When one of the WTRUs initiated a video-streaming flow, it wasnow-following a non-standard ANDSF policy, which was arrived at by (i)taking advantage of the numerous measurements available in the network,and (ii) taking advantage of the ability of the interactions betweenPCRF 320 and ANDSF 322.

Although FIG. 26 illustrates the HNB and Wi-Fi AP as separate entities,the HNB and Wi-Fi AP may be integrated or otherwise combined into anIFW-AP and located in the local premises. The local premises may alsoinclude a local policy function (PUF), which will interwork with thepolicy functions in the CN. Such hierarchical policy architecture may beimplemented by designating certain policy rules as being entirely local,whereas another set of policy rules are decided locally only afterconsulting with the CN-based policies and a third set of policy rules,which are transparently communicated to and decided by the CN.

Enhanced UE-initiated IFOM

As shown in the procedure 2700 of FIG. 27, for WTRU-initiated IFOM, theWTRU may rely on operator ISRP policies provided by the network toperform interface selection. The WTRU 302, however, may be aware ofwhich type of connection (untrusted network or private network availablenot known by the network) are available to it. The ANDSF MO combinedwith WTRU 302 measurement may be used by the WTRU to decide to re-routeany of all the active flows, and to decide on which interface to sendany new (seamless and/or non seamless) flow.

The ANDSF 322 may configure the WTRU 302 with pre-defined operatorpolicy to the WTRU 302, which may provide the ANDSF 322 with its owncapabilities. The ISRP may be setup to run video over Wi-Fi. When theWTRU 302 starts a video, the only access available to it is 3G, so itruns it over the 3G access. Eventually, the WTRU crosses a Wi-FiHotSpot. In various embodiments the Wi-Fi version is 802.11u for bothWTRU 302 and the AP. The 802.11u provides additional information to WTRU302 about Wi-Fi network selection. Based on ISRP information, the WTRUmay decide to move the active session to Wi-Fi network and notify thePCRF 320 of the decision. PCRF 320, in turn, may perform an IP-CANSession Modification as stated in TS 23.203 and move the application tothe Wi-Fi network.

Measurements-based PCC Service Discovery

At an initial link set, either over Wi-Fi or 3GPP accesses, for the WTRU302 to enable or disable the measurements reports for PCC, the WTRU mayperform discovery to determine if the Measurements-based PCC service isavailable in the network.

One method for Wi-Fi AP is by introducing information into beaconframes, or by adding new fields in a Generic Advertisement Service (GAS)messages. For 3GPP, the network can add a measurement-based PCCcapability field into the ANDSF MO and push the information to the WTRUwhen connected.

CONCLUSION

Embodiments

In an embodiment, a method may include obtaining performance metricsassociated with a plurality of accesses of a network.

In an embodiment, the method may further include adapting one or morerules of one or more policies for managing internet protocol (IP)traffic among the plurality of accesses based, at least in part, on theperformance metrics and a policy for managing bandwidth among theplurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, the method may further include managing IP trafficassociated with at least one wireless transmit and/or receive unit(“WTRU”) among the plurality of accesses responsive to the adaptedrules.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing quality of service(“QoS”) of the IP traffic associated with the at least one WTRU amongthe plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing gating of the IP trafficassociated with the at least one WTRU among the plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing quality of service(“QoS”) of IP traffic not associated with the at least one WTRU amongthe plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing gating of IP traffic notassociated with the at least one WTRU among the plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing connections to theplurality of accesses for the IP traffic associated with the at leastone WTRU.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing connections to theplurality of accesses for the IP traffic not associated with the atleast one WTRU.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing selection of theplurality of accesses for the IP traffic associated with the at leastone WTRU.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing selection of theplurality of accesses for the IP traffic not associated with the atleast one WTRU.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing discovery of theplurality of accesses for the IP traffic associated with the at leastone WTRU.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies for managing discovery of theplurality of accesses for the IP traffic not associated with the atleast one WTRU.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies so as to cause dynamic adaptation ofbearers for the IP traffic associated with the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include adapting one ormore rules of one or more policies so as to cause dynamic adaptation ofbearers for the IP traffic not associated with the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, adaptation of bearers may include any ofestablishment, modification and release of the bearers.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include providing oneor more of the adapted rules to the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, adapting one or more rules may include providing oneor more of the adapted rules to the at least one WTRU so as to cause theat least one WTRU to adapt one or more locally-maintained rules of oneor more policies for managing IP traffic among the plurality ofaccesses.

In an embodiment, managing IP traffic may include causing the at leastone WTRU to apply one or more of the locally-maintained rules.

In an embodiment, the applied locally-maintained rules may include atleast one adapted rule.

In an embodiment, managing IP traffic may include applying one of moreof the adapted rules to the IP traffic.

In an embodiment, the applied adapted rules may include at least oneadapted rule of at least one policy for managing QoS of the IP traffic.

In an embodiment, the applied adapted rules may include at least adaptedrule of at least one policy for managing gating of the IP traffic.

In an embodiment, the applied adapted rules may include at least adaptedrule of at least one policy for managing connections to the plurality ofaccesses.

In an embodiment, the applied adapted rules may include at least adaptedrule of at least one policy for managing selection of the plurality ofaccesses for the IP traffic.

In an embodiment, the applied adapted rules may include at least adaptedrule of at least one policy for managing discovery of the plurality ofaccesses for the IP traffic.

In an embodiment, managing IP traffic may include managing a data flowof IP traffic among the plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, a data flow may include a data flow of the IP trafficassociated with the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, managing a data flow may include managing QoS for thedata flow.

In an embodiment, managing IP traffic may include aggregating bandwidthfrom at least two accesses of the plurality of accesses for the IPtraffic associated with the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, managing IP traffic may include aggregating bandwidthfrom at least two accesses of the plurality of accesses for IP trafficnot associated with the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, aggregating bandwidth from the plurality of accessesmay include distributing respective portions of the IP traffic among theat least two accesses.

In an embodiment, the policy for managing bandwidth among the pluralityof accesses may include: one or more rules for causing adaption of oneor more rules of one or more policies for managing any of QoS of IPtraffic among the plurality of accesses; gating of the IP traffic amongthe plurality of accesses; connections to the plurality of accesses;selection of the plurality of accesses for the IP traffic; and discoveryof the plurality of accesses for the IP traffic.

In an embodiment, managing IP traffic may include: gating at least aportion of the IP traffic from at least one of the plurality ofaccesses.

In an embodiment, at least two accesses of the plurality of accesses usedifferent access technologies.

In an embodiment, the plurality of accesses may include any of a 3GPPaccess, a non-3GPP trusted access and a non-3GPP untrusted access.

In an embodiment, the performance metrics may include: any of usage,congestion, connectivity, loading and latency.

In an embodiment, obtaining the usage of the plurality of accesses mayinclude obtaining packet-based measurements from at least one access ofthe plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, the performance metrics are obtained via respectiveinterfaces of the plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, the performance metrics are obtained from radioreports provided from one or more of the plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, obtaining the performance metrics may includeobtaining information for generating the performance metrics; andgenerating the performance metrics from the obtained information.

In an embodiment, the performance metrics may include performancemetrics relating to packet retransmissions associated with at least oneaccess of the plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, the performance metrics relating to packetretransmissions may include a number of retransmissions.

In an embodiment, the performance metrics relating to packetretransmissions may include rate of retransmissions.

In an embodiment, the performance metrics relating to packetretransmissions may include performance metrics relating to packetretransmissions by the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, the performance metrics relating to packetretransmissions may include performance metrics relating to packetretransmissions by at least one base station of the at least one accessof the plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, managing IP traffic associated with at least one WTRUamong the plurality of access networks may include re-routing at leastone retransmitted packet from a first access of the plurality ofaccesses to a second access of the plurality of access networks on acondition that the performance metric relating to packet retransmissionssatisfies a threshold.

In an embodiment, the method may further include triggering adaptationof the one or more rules responsive to the performance metrics relatingto packet retransmissions satisfying the threshold.

In an embodiment, the policy for managing bandwidth among the pluralityof accesses is stored in database of an Access Network Discovery andSelection Function (“ANDSF”) entity.

In an embodiment, at least one rule of the one or more rules of one ormore policies for managing IP traffic among the plurality of accesses ismaintained in the database of the ANDSF entity.

In an embodiment, at least one rule of the one or more rules of one ormore policies for managing IP traffic among the plurality of accesses ismaintained in a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (“PCEF”)entity.

In an embodiment, at least policy of the one or more policies formanaging IP traffic among the plurality of accesses is maintained in aPolicy and Charging Rules Function (“PCRF”).

In an embodiment, at least one rule of the one or more rules of one ormore policies for managing IP traffic among the plurality of accesses ismaintained in a database of an Access Network Discovery and SelectionFunction (“ANDSF”) entity.

In an embodiment, at least one rule of the one or more rules of one ormore policies for managing IP traffic among the plurality of accesses ismaintained in the database of the ANDSF entity.

In an embodiment, at least one rule of the one or more rules of one ormore policies for managing IP traffic among the plurality of accesses ismaintained in a Policy and Charging Enforcement Function (“PCEF”)entity.

In an embodiment, at least policy of the one or more policies formanaging IP traffic among the plurality of accesses is maintained in aPolicy and Charging Rules Function (“PCRF”).

In an embodiment, the PCEF entity is a PCEF entity of a convergedgateway (“CGW”).

In an embodiment, the PCRF entity is a PCRF entity of the CGW.

In an embodiment, the policy for managing bandwidth among the pluralityof accesses may include: any of policy activation time, policypersistence, user permissions, WTRU identity, WTRU priority for uplinkand downlink, service classification/identification requirements,preferred access per service for uplink and downlink, minimum QoS per IPflow and maximum QoS per IP flow.

In an embodiment, the plurality of access networks includes at least twoof (i) wireless local area networks (WLANs), (ii) cellular networks,(iii) Bluetooth networks and (iii) peer-to-peer networks.

In an embodiment, a system may include a network monitoring and controlfunction (“NMCF”) entity configured to obtain performance metricsassociated with a plurality of accesses of a network.

In an embodiment, the system may further include a policy and chargingrules function (“PCRF”) entity configured to adapt rules of at least onepolicy for managing internet protocol (IP) traffic associated with awireless transmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”) among the plurality ofaccesses based, at least in part, on the performance metrics and apolicy for managing bandwidth among the plurality of accesses; and

In an embodiment, the system may further include a policy and chargingenforcement function (“PCEF”) configured to manage IP traffic associatedwith the WTRU among the plurality of accesses responsive to the rulesfor managing IP traffic.

In an embodiment, the PCEF may include a bandwidth management (“BWM”)function (“BWMF”).

In an embodiment, the BWMF is configured to (i) obtain packet-basedmeasurements from the IP traffic, (ii) obtain the performance metricsfrom the NMCF entity, and (iii) provide the packet-based measurementsand performance metrics to the PCEF.

In an embodiment, the PCRF entity is configured to adapt one or morerules of one or more policies for managing quality of service (“QoS”) ofthe IP traffic associated with the at least one WTRU among the pluralityof accesses.

In an embodiment, the PCRF entity is configured to adapt one or morerules of one or more policies for managing gating of the IP trafficassociated with the at least one WTRU among the plurality of accesses.

In an embodiment, the ANDSF entity is configured to adapt one or morerules of one or more policies for managing connections to the pluralityof accesses for the IP traffic associated with the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, the ANDSF entity is configured to adapt one or morerules of one or more policies for managing connections to the pluralityof accesses for the IP traffic not associated with the at least oneWTRU.

In an embodiment, the ANDSF entity is configured to adapt one or morerules of one or more policies for managing selection of the plurality ofaccesses for the IP traffic associated with the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, the ANDSF entity is configured to adapt one or morerules of one or more policies for managing discovery of the plurality ofaccesses for the IP traffic associated with the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, the ANDSF entity is configured to adapt one or morerules of one or more policies so as to cause dynamic adaptation ofbearers for the IP traffic associated with the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, adaptation of bearers may include any ofestablishment, modification and release of the bearers.

In an embodiment, any of the ANDSF and PCRF entities is configured toprovide one or more of the adapted rules to the at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, a converged gateway may include a network monitoringand control function (“NMCF”) entity configured to obtain performancemetrics associated with a plurality of accesses of a network.

In an embodiment, the converged gateway may further include a policy andcharging rules function (“PCRF”) entity configured to adapt rules of atleast one policy for managing internet protocol (IP) traffic associatedwith a wireless transmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”) among theplurality of accesses based, at least in part, on the performancemetrics and a policy for managing bandwidth among the plurality ofaccesses; and

In an embodiment, the converged gateway may further include a policy andcharging enforcement function (“PCEF”) configured to manage IP trafficassociated with the WTRU among the plurality of accesses responsive tothe rules for managing IP traffic.

In an embodiment, a method may include establishing a connection betweena policy charging and rules function (“PCRF”) and an access networkdiscovery and selection function (“ANDSF”) of a network may includemultiple accesses;

In an embodiment, the method may further include obtaining informationabout the network (“network information”), at the PCRF, via theconnection between the ANDSF and the PCRF; and

In an embodiment, the method may further include generating based, atleast in part, on the network information obtained at the PCRF,policy-configuration information for configuring a policy forfacilitating flow management across the multiple accesses.

In an embodiment, the method may further include sending thepolicy-configuration information to any of the ANDSF, a wirelesstransmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”), and a policy and chargingenforcement function (“PCEF”).

In an embodiment, the method may further include obtaining, at the PCRFvia the connection between the ANDSF and PCRF, information defining thepolicy (“policy definition information”), wherein generatingpolicy-configuration information may include: generating thepolicy-configuration information based, at least in part, on the networkinformation and the obtained by the PCRF and the policy-definitioninformation.

In an embodiment, establishing a connection between a PCRF and an ANDSFmay include establishing a connection between the PCRF and the ANDSF inaccordance with any of a Diameter protocol, a Diameter application and aprotocol based on the Diameter protocol.

In an embodiment, establishing a connection between a PCRF and an ANDSFmay include establishing a connection between the PCRF and the ANDSF inaccordance with a device management (“DM”) protocol.

In an embodiment, the DM protocol may include a DM protocol inaccordance with an open-mobile alliance (“OMA”) DM protocol.

In an embodiment, the obtained network information may include any ofstatic and dynamically updated network information garnered frompolicy-definition information, access network discovery information,network status information, subscriber information andtraffic-identification information.

In an embodiment, the obtained network information may include networkinformation detected by at least one WTRU.

In an embodiment, the WTRU detected network information is obtained bythe ANDSF via at least one connection between the ANDSF and the at leastone WTRU, respectively.

In an embodiment, the at least one connection between the ANDSF and theWTRU may include a connection in accordance with an OMA DM protocol.

In an embodiment, the WTRU detected network information obtained by theANDSF from a WTRU may include any of the policy-definition information,access network discovery information, network status information andtraffic-identification information.

In an embodiment, the network status information may include any of ameasurement and metric associated with congestion detected by (i) theWTRU for any of a cell, access point and PDN; and (ii) an application.

In an embodiment, the information available to the ANDSF may includeinformation obtained by the ANDSF from a repository of subscriberinformation.

In an embodiment, the repository of subscriber information may includeany of a home location register (“HLR”), visitor location register(“VLR”), home subscriber server (“HSS”) and subscriber profilerepository (“SPR”).

In an embodiment, the policy-definition information may includeinformation related to any of an inter-system mobility policy and aninter-system routing policy.

In an embodiment, obtaining network information, at the PCRF, via theconnection between the ANDSF and the PCRF may include: receiving thenetwork information responsive to a request from the PCRF.

In an embodiment, obtaining network information, at the PCRF, via theconnection between the ANDSF and the PCRF may include: receiving thenetwork information responsive to a synchronization routing among any ofthe PCRF, ANDSF and WTRU.

In an embodiment, obtaining network information, at the PCRF, via theconnection between the ANDSF and the PCRF may include: receiving thenetwork information responsive to an event detected at the ANDSF.

In an embodiment, the method may further include receiving an eventnotification, wherein the event notification may include the networkinformation, and wherein obtaining network information, at the PCRF, viathe connection between the ANDSF and the PCRF may include: extractingthe network information from the event notification.

In an embodiment, the PCRF subscribes to an event report for generatingthe event notification.

In an embodiment, the event may include any of a policy update from theANDSF, PLMN change, QoS change, IFOM routing change, access change,access link condition, WTRU IP address change, location update,application detection, and traffic-identification detection.

In an embodiment, obtaining network information, at the PCRF, via theconnection between the ANDSF and the PCRF may include: receiving thenetwork information without a request for the network information.

In an embodiment, obtaining policy-definition information, at the PCRF,via the connection between the ANDSF and the PCRF may include: receivingthe policy-definition information responsive to a request from the PCRF.

In an embodiment, obtaining policy-definition information, at the PCRF,via the connection between the ANDSF and the PCRF may include: receivingthe policy-definition information responsive to a synchronizationrouting among any of the PCRF, ANDSF and WTRU.

In an embodiment, obtaining policy-definition information, at the PCRF,via the connection between the ANDSF and the PCRF may include: receivingthe policy-definition information responsive to an event detected at theANDSF.

In an embodiment, the method may further include receiving an eventnotification, wherein the event notification may include thepolicy-definition information, and wherein obtaining policy-definitioninformation, at the PCRF, via the connection between the ANDSF and thePCRF may include: extracting the policy-definition information from theevent notification.

In an embodiment, the PCRF subscribes to an event report for generatingthe event notification.

In an embodiment, the event may include any of a policy update from theANDSF, PLMN change, QoS change, IFOM routing change, access change,access link condition, WTRU IP address change, location update,application detection, and traffic-identification detection.

In an embodiment, obtaining policy-definition information, at the PCRF,via the connection between the ANDSF and the PCRF may include: receivingthe policy-definition information without a request for thepolicy-definition information.

In an embodiment, the method may further include using thepolicy-configuration information at any of the WTRU and PCEF to performIP flow management (“IFOM”) across the multiple accesses.

In an embodiment, the network information may include networkinformation aggregated by the ANDSF.

In an embodiment, the obtained network information may include networkinformation detected by a plurality of WTRUs, and wherein the WTRUdetected network information is aggregated by the ANDSF.

In an embodiment, the obtained network information may include networkinformation detected by a plurality of WTRUs and network informationdetected by a network monitoring and control function (“NMCF”), andwherein the WTRU-detected and NMCF-detected network information isaggregated by the ANDSF.

In an embodiment, a method may include establishing a connection betweena PCRF and an ANDSF of a network may include multiple accesses.

In an embodiment, the method may further include establishing aconnection between the PCRF and a WTRU via the connection between thePCRF and ANDSF.

In an embodiment, the method may further include obtaining networkinformation from the WTRU at the PCRF.

In an embodiment, the method may further include generating, based, atleast in part, on the network information obtained at the PCRF,policy-configuration information for configuring a policy forfacilitating flow management across the multiple accesses.

In an embodiment, the method may further include sending thepolicy-configuration information to any of the ANDSF, a wirelesstransmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”), and a policy and chargingenforcement function (“PCEF”).

In an embodiment, the method may further include obtaining policydefinition information at the PCRF via the connection between the ANDSFand PCRF, wherein generating policy-configuration information mayinclude generating the policy-configuration information based, at leastin part, on the network information and the obtained by the PCRF and thepolicy-definition information.

In an embodiment, a method may include establishing a connection among aWTRU and a PCRF and an ANDSF of a network may include multiple accesses.

In an embodiment, the method may further include synchronizing networkand policy-definition information among the WTRU and a PCRF and anANDSF.

In an embodiment, the method may further include generating, based, atleast in part, on the network information obtained at the PCRF,policy-configuration information for configuring a policy forfacilitating flow management across the multiple accesses.

In an embodiment, the method may further include sending thepolicy-configuration information to any of the ANDSF, a wirelesstransmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”), and a policy and chargingenforcement function (“PCEF”).

In an embodiment, the method may further include obtaining policydefinition information, at the PCRF via the connection between the ANDSFand PCRF, wherein generating policy-configuration information mayinclude generating the policy-configuration information based, at leastin part, on the network information and the obtained by the PCRF and thepolicy-definition information.

In an embodiment, a method may include establishing a connection betweena PCRF and an ANDSF of a network may include multiple accesses.

In an embodiment, the method may further include obtaining networkinformation from a WTRU at the PCRF.

In an embodiment, the method may further include generating, based, atleast in part, on the network information obtained at the PCRF,policy-configuration information for configuring a policy forfacilitating flow management across the multiple accesses.

In an embodiment, the method may further include sending thepolicy-configuration information to any of the ANDSF, a wirelesstransmit and/or receive unit (“WTRU”), and a policy and chargingenforcement function (“PCEF”).

In an embodiment, the method may further include obtaining policydefinition information at the PCRF via the connection between the ANDSFand PCRF, wherein generating policy-configuration information mayinclude generating the policy-configuration information based, at leastin part, on the network information and the obtained by the PCRF and thepolicy-definition information.

In an embodiment, the method may further include any of the networkinformation and the policy information is maintained in an ANDSF ManagedObject (“MO”).

In an embodiment, the method may further include obtaining other networkinformation at the PCRF from any of the a WTRU, PCEF, a bearer bindingand event reporting function (“BBERF”), subscription profile repository(“SPR”), a traffic detection function (“TDF”), an application function(“AF”), a base station, and a network monitoring and control function(“NMCF”).

In an embodiment, the network information obtained from any of the WTRU,PCEF, BBERF, SPR, TDF, AF, base station, and NMCF may include any of (i)perceived congestion via any of a cell, an access point and PDN; (ii)detected applications; and (iii) detected flows.

In an embodiment, the policy-configuration information may includepolicy-configuration information for configuring an ANDSF MO managed bythe ANDSF.

In an embodiment, the policy-configuration information may include: anyof (i) information identifying an access of the multiple accesses beingused for a connection of a WTRU; and (ii) information identifying an IPflow associated with the connection.

In an embodiment, the method may further include receiving, from theANDSF, a request for the policy-configuration information, whereinsending the policy-related information may include: sending therequested policy-related information responsive to the request.

In an embodiment, the method may further include detecting, at the PCRF,an event corresponding to an event trigger for triggering the PCRF tonotify the ANDSF of the event; and sending, from the PCRF to the ANDSF,a notification of the event, wherein sending policy-configurationinformation may include: sending the requested policy-configurationinformation responsive to the notification of the event.

In an embodiment, the method may further include detecting, at the PCRF,an event corresponding to an event trigger for triggering the PCRF tosend to the ANDSF the policy-configuration information, wherein sendingpolicy-configuration information may include: sending the requestedpolicy-related information responsive to the detected event.

In an embodiment, a method for discovering an ANDSF serving a WTRU mayinclude configuring a PCRF with an address of each of a plurality of ANDSFs; receiving, at the PCRF from a PCEF, information related to aconnection of the WTRU obtained when the WTRU establishes a bearer; andquerying one or more of the plurality of ANDSFs to determine the ANDSFserving the WTRU.

In an embodiment, a method for discovering an ANDSF serving a WTRU mayinclude configuring a PCRF with an address of each of a plurality of ANDSFs; receiving, at the PCRF from a PCEF, information related to aconnection of the WTRU obtained by the PCEF when the WTRU establishes abearer; limiting a search of the plurality of ANDSFs to a subset of theplurality of ANDSFs based on the received information related to aconnection of the WTRU; and querying the subset of the plurality ofANDSFs to determine the ANDSF serving the WTRU.

In an embodiment, a method for discovering an ANDSF serving a WTRU mayinclude: configuring an SPR with an address of each of a plurality ofANDSFs; obtaining, at the PCRF from the SPR, information related to theWTRU obtained by the SPR when the WTRU establishes a bearer; queryingthe SPR for the address of at least one ANDSF of the plurality ofANDSFs; and querying, based on the address of at least one ANDSF, the atleast one ANDSF to determine the ANDSF serving the WTRU.

In an embodiment, a method for discovering an ANDSF serving a WTRU mayinclude: configuring a SPR with an address of each of a plurality ofANDSFs; obtaining, at the PCRF from the SPR, information related to theWTRU obtained by the SPR when the WTRU establishes a bearer; limiting asearch of the plurality of ANDSFs to a subset of the plurality of ANDSFsbased on the obtained information related to the WTRU; querying the SPRfor the address of at least one ANDSF of the subset of the plurality ofANDSFs; and querying, based on the address of at least one ANDSF, the atleast one ANDSF to determine the ANDSF serving the WTRU.

In an embodiment, a method may include obtaining, at a PCRF, a metricassociated with at least one link formed in a network may includemultiple accesses; and responsive to the metric, configuring a policydirected to any of inter-system mobility and inter-system routing.

In an embodiment, configuring a policy directed to any of inter-systemmobility and inter-system routing may include: generatingpolicy-configuration information based, at least in part, on the metric.

In an embodiment, the method may further include establishing aconnection between the PCRF and an access network discovery andselection function (“ANDSF”); and sending the policy-configurationinformation from the PCRF to the ANDSF.

In an embodiment, the method may further include establishing aconnection between the PCRF and the ANDSF; and sending, from the PCRF tothe ANDSF, policy-configuration information based, at least in part, onthe metric.

In an embodiment, the policy-configuration information may include anyof a rule, parameter, setting, attribute, variable, expression,characteristic, directive, command, subscription and event trigger forimplementing the policy.

In an embodiment, the policy-configuration information may include: anyof (i) information identifying an access of the multiple accesses beingused for a connection of a “WTRU”; and (ii) information identifying anIP flow associated with the connection.

In an embodiment, the method may further include receiving theconfiguration information at the ANDSF; and storing the configurationinformation in memory.

In an embodiment, the memory may include a data structure, and whereinstoring the configuration information in memory may include: storing theconfiguration information in the data structure.

In an embodiment, the data structure may include an ANDSF managementobject (“ANDSF MO”), and wherein storing the policy-configurationinformation in the data structure may include: storing thepolicy-configuration information in the ANDSF MO.

In an embodiment, the method may further include obtaining, at the ANDSFfrom the WTRU, any of updated location and IP flow mobility (“IFOM”)information.

In an embodiment, the method may further include managing IFOM acrossthe multiple accesses responsive to the configured policy.

In an embodiment, at least one link may include a link of a data pathbetween a WTRU and a data source

In an embodiment, the multiple accesses may include respective radioaccess technologies (“RATs”), and wherein the at least one link mayinclude: at least one link of the multiple RATs.

In an embodiment, obtaining information associated with a condition of anetwork may include: receiving the information from a PCEF.

In an embodiment, obtaining information associated with a condition of anetwork may include: receiving the information via a policy and chargingenforcement function PCEF.

In an embodiment, obtaining information associated with a condition of anetwork may include: receiving the information from an ANDSF.

In an embodiment, obtaining information associated with a condition of anetwork may include: receiving the information from a WTRU via an ANDSF.

In an embodiment, obtaining information associated with a condition of anetwork may include: receiving the information from a NMCF.

In an embodiment, obtaining information associated with a condition of anetwork may include: establishing an interface between the PCRF and ANDSF.

In an embodiment, the policy may include any of a policy and chargingcontrol (“PCC”) rule, quality-of-service (“QoS”) control rule, IP-CANbearer and/or session policy information rule, usage monitoring controlinformation rule, an IFOM routing rule and an application detection andcontrol (“ADC”) rule.

In an embodiment, managing a policy associated with IFOM across themultiple accesses may include: generating, responsive to the informationassociated with a condition of a network, a rule for enforcing thepolicy; and sending the rule to a PCEF.

In an embodiment, managing a policy associated with IFOM across themultiple accesses may include: generating, responsive to the informationassociated with a condition of a network, a rule for enforcing thepolicy; and sending the rule to a PCEF.

In an embodiment, the metric may include a measure of any of congestion,connectivity, loading and latency associated with the at least one link.

In an embodiment, an apparatus may be configured to perform any of theabove methods.

In an embodiment, a system may be configured to perform be configured toperform any of the above methods.

In an embodiment, a converged gateway may be configured to perform beconfigured to perform any of the above methods.

In an embodiment, a tangible computer readable storage medium havingstored thereon computer executable instructions for performing any ofthe above methods.

Variations of the method, apparatus and system described above arepossible without departing from the scope of the invention. In view ofthe wide variety of embodiments that can be applied, it should beunderstood that the illustrated embodiments are exemplary only, andshould not be taken as limiting the scope of the following claims. Forinstance, in the exemplary embodiments described herein include handhelddevices, which may include or be utilized with any appropriate voltagesource, such as a battery and the like, providing any appropriatevoltage.

Although features and elements are described above in particularcombinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that eachfeature or element can be used alone or in any combination with theother features and elements. In addition, the methods described hereinmay be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmwareincorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computeror processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronicsignals (transmitted over wired or wireless connections) andcomputer-readable storage media. Examples of computer-readable storagemedia include, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM), arandom access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductormemory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removabledisks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks,and digital versatile disks (DVDs). A processor in association withsoftware may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for usein a WTRU, UE, terminal, base station, RNC, or any host computer.

Moreover, in the embodiments described above, processing platforms,computing systems, controllers, and other devices containing processorsare noted. These devices may contain at least one Central ProcessingUnit (“CPU”) and memory. In accordance with the practices of personsskilled in the art of computer programming, reference to acts andsymbolic representations of operations or instructions may be performedby the various CPUs and memories. Such acts and operations orinstructions may be referred to as being “executed,” “computer executed”or “CPU executed.”

One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the acts andsymbolically represented operations or instructions include themanipulation of electrical signals by the CPU. An electrical systemrepresents data bits that can cause a resulting transformation orreduction of the electrical signals and the maintenance of data bits atmemory locations in a memory system to thereby reconfigure or otherwisealter the CPU's operation, as well as other processing of signals. Thememory locations where data bits are maintained are physical locationsthat have particular electrical, magnetic, optical, or organicproperties corresponding to or representative of the data bits. Itshould be understood that the exemplary embodiments are not limited tothe above-mentioned platforms or CPUs and that other platforms and CPUsmay support the described methods.

The data bits may also be maintained on a computer readable mediumincluding magnetic disks, optical disks, and any other volatile (e.g.,Random Access Memory (“RAM”)) or non-volatile (e.g., Read-Only Memory(“ROM”)) mass storage system readable by the CPU. The computer readablemedium may include cooperating or interconnected computer readablemedium, which exist exclusively on the processing system or aredistributed among multiple interconnected processing systems that may belocal or remote to the processing system. It should be understood thatthe exemplary embodiments are not limited to the above-mentionedmemories and that other platforms and memories may support the describedmethods.

No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the presentapplication should be construed as critical or essential to theinvention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein,each of the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or moreitems. Where only one item is intended, the terms “a single” or similarlanguage is used. Further, the terms “any of” followed by a listing of aplurality of items and/or a plurality of categories of items, as usedherein, are intended to include “any of,” “any combination of,” “anymultiple of,” and/or “any combination of” multiples of the items and/orthe categories of items, individually or in conjunction with other itemsand/or other categories of items. Further, as used herein, the term“set” is intended to include any number of items, including zero.Further, as used herein, the term “number” is intended to include anynumber, including zero.

Moreover, the claims should not be read as limited to the describedorder or elements unless stated to that effect. In addition, use of theterm “means” in any claim is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, ¶6, andany claim without the word “means” is not so intended.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: obtaining, at a policy andcharging rules function (PCRF) element, user plane congestioninformation associated with a radio access network (RAN); and adapting,at a network element, a bearer used for transporting internet protocol(IP) traffic associated with a wireless transmit and/or receive unit(WTRU) based, at least in part, on the user plane congestion informationand a rule specified by the PCRF element for enforcing a Quality ofService (QoS) policy.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:adapting, at the PCRF element, the rule for enforcing a QoS policybased, at least in part, on any of (i) precedence of the IP traffic,(ii) subscription information associated with one or more WTRUs, and(iii) whether the WTRU has connections to a plurality of accesses. 3.The method of claim 1, further comprising: adapting, at the PCRFelement, the rule for enforcing a QoS policy with any of a QoS parameterand a service data flow (SDF) filter to cause dynamic adaptation of thebearer.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein adaptation of the bearercomprises any of establishment, modification and release of the bearer.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: managing a data flow ofthe IP traffic among first and second accesses, wherein the first accesscomprises the RAN.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:aggregating bandwidth from first and second accesses for transmission ofthe IP traffic, wherein the first access comprises the RAN.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: gating and/or traffic shaping atleast a portion of the IP traffic at one or both of (i) a first access,and (ii) a second access, wherein the first access comprises the RAN. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining user plane congestioninformation comprises: receiving the user plane congestion informationat the PCRF element from the information collection and reportingelement.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive to theuser plane congestion information satisfying a threshold, re-routing, toanother RAN, any of (i) a packet of the IP traffic, and (ii) a packet ofIP traffic associated with other WTRUs.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising: selectively gating and/or traffic shaping the IPtraffic, at the network element, based, at least in part, on a rulespecified by the PCRF element for enforcing a traffic management policy.11. The method of claim 10, wherein selectively gating and/or trafficshaping the IP traffic comprises: performing flow identification of aflow of the IP traffic; performing flow filtering of the identifiedflow; and dropping at least one packet of the filtered flow based, atleast in part, on the rule specified by the PCRF element for enforcing atraffic management policy; or routing at least one packet of thefiltered flow to an access selected from a plurality of accesses based,at least in part, on the rule specified by the PCRF element forenforcing a traffic management policy.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein adapting a bearer comprises: releasing the bearer at the networkelement.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein adapting a bearer comprises:modifying the bearer at the network element, and wherein modifying thebearer comprises: adapting the bearer based on any of a precedence, QoSparameter and SDF filter specified by the rule for enforcing a QoSpolicy.
 14. A system comprising: a policy and charging rules function(PCRF) element configured to obtain user plane congestion informationassociated with a radio access network (RAN); and a network elementconfigured to adapt a bearer used for transporting internet protocol(IP) traffic associated with a wireless transmit and/or receive unit(WTRU) based, at least in part, on the user plane congestion informationand a rule specified by the PCRF element for enforcing a Quality ofService (QoS) policy.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the PCRFelement is configured to adapt the rule for enforcing a QoS policybased, at least in part, on any of (i) precedence of the IP traffic,(ii) subscription information associated with one or more WTRUs, and(iii) whether the WTRU has connections to a plurality of accesses. 16.The system of claim 14, wherein the PCRF element is configured to adaptthe rule for enforcing a QoS policy with any of a QoS parameter and aservice data flow (SDF) filter to cause dynamic adaptation of thebearer.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein adaptation of the bearercomprises any of establishment, modification and release of the bearer.18. The system of claim 14, wherein the network element is configured tomanage a data flow of the IP traffic among first and second accesses,wherein the first access comprises the RAN.
 19. The system of claim 14,wherein the network element is configured to aggregate bandwidth fromfirst and second accesses for transmission of the IP traffic, whereinthe first access comprises the RAN.
 20. The system of claim 14, whereinthe network element is configured to: gate and/or traffic shape at leasta portion of the IP traffic at one or both of (i) a first access, and(ii) a second access, wherein the first access comprises the RAN. 21.The system of claim 14, wherein the PCRF element is configured toreceive the user plane congestion information from an informationcollection and reporting element.
 22. The system of claim 14, whereinthe network element is configured to: responsive to the user planecongestion information satisfying a threshold, re-route, to another RAN,any of (i) a packet of the IP traffic, and (ii) a packet of IP trafficassociated with other WTRUs.
 23. The system of claim 14, wherein thenetwork element is configured to selectively gate and/or traffic shapethe IP traffic based, at least in part, on a rule specified by the PCRFelement for enforcing a traffic management policy.
 24. The system ofclaim 23, wherein the network element is configured to: perform flowidentification of a flow of the IP traffic; perform flow filtering ofthe identified flow; and drop at least one packet of the filtered flowbased, at least in part, on the rule specified by the PCRF element forenforcing a traffic management policy; or routing at least one packet ofthe filtered flow to an access selected from a plurality of accessesbased, at least in part, on the rule specified by the PCRF element forenforcing a traffic management policy.
 25. The system of claim 24,wherein the network element is configured to release the bearer.
 26. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the network element is configured to adaptthe bearer based on any of a precedence, QoS parameter and SDF filterspecified by the rule for enforcing a QoS policy.
 27. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the user plane congestion information is obtained via astandardized reference point at the PCRF element.
 28. The system ofclaim 14, wherein the user plane congestion information is obtained viaa standardized reference point at the PCRF element.